Why Empowerment and Employment are important for mental health
Empowerment
People experiencing mental health challenges should always play a central role in their own recovery process. Not only is someone more likely to understand what they need, but by being actively engaged in the process, they are more likely to succeed, and less likely to become dependent on the mental health system.
The benefit of empowerment is two-fold – improving outcomes for people as well as for communities.
Playing active roles in our own mental health journeys
Empowerment involves having genuine conversations with people to understand their needs and providing them with the tools, knowledge and resources so they can seek out the right supports for them.
This creates a sense of agency, resiliency and active engagement in their journey to wellbeing. It also fosters problem-solving abilities, enabling them to navigate life's challenges with greater confidence.
When we feel empowered, we are more likely to recognise and address the early signs of mental health distress in ourselves, take proactive steps to maintain our mental health, and seek timely support when we need it.
Therefore, empowerment is the difference between someone being a passive recipient of care, and them being an active participant in their own healing process.
This is particularly important for reducing stigma around mental health, encouraging open dialogue, and creating supportive communities where everyone feels safe to share their experiences and seek support without fear of judgment.
Employment
Employment is vital in mental health care. It is an immense source of personal, social and economic empowerment, and there's consensus internationally that employment is one of the best treatments we have for serious mental health challenges.
Just like empowerment, employment can also benefit individuals as well as communities.
The individual benefits of employment
Having a job means much more than simply earning an income. For example, earning an income can lead to more secure housing or reduced financial stress. Just like working as part of a team can lead to increased social connections and a sense of belonging in the community.
When someone has a meaningful and secure job, they tend to feel a positive sense of identity and improved self-esteem, which helps to reduce personal and social stigma. And when we feel positive about ourselves, we’re more likely to be motivated and empowered to seek the other things we need to create a meaningful life for ourselves.
Having a job provides someone with the means and motivation to manage the symptoms of their mental health condition. When symptoms are being effectively managed, a person has a greater chance of coping in the workplace, at home, and in the community.
Employment helps to reduce hospitalisation
Where employment has been a part of someone’s treatment for a mental health challenge, it has been found to reduce the chances of hospitalisation and people's dependence on mental health services overall.
When someone has a job and is experiencing the personal benefits explored above, they are more likely to maintain their sense of wellbeing and less likely to experience severe mental health distress that can lead to readmission.
This not only benefits the individual but also helps to reduce demand on our emergency departments and health system overall.
A mentally healthy workforce is good for business
Mentally healthy employees foster better productivity, and a more positive, innovative workplace culture.
When an employee maintains good mental health, they are more likely to come to work, which reduces an organisation’s rates of absenteeism. An employee who is regularly attending and engaged in their work is more likely to stay in their role for longer, which in turn increases an organisation’s retention rates and reduces recruitment costs. And finally, the longer an employee stays in their role, the more opportunities there are for them to increase their skills and progress their career, which creates a strong and knowledgeable workforce across the entire organisation.
Employers who make the smart decision to invest in the mental health of their workforce yield these benefits and more. A mentally healthy workforce fosters a conducive environment for collaboration, problem-solving and innovation, which drives organisational success and competitive advantage.
Increasing access to supported employment
One example of the ways that employment can be integrated into someone’s mental health recovery is with supported employment programs like the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model.
IPS is based on the premise that with the right support, anyone can gain and retain meaningful, competitive work, regardless of their mental health challenge.
In practice, an IPS Employment Specialist will work alongside someone’s mental health support team to understand the person’s interests, abilities and career goals. The employment specialist will maintain a network of suitable local employers and will work on behalf of the individual to find a job that’s the right fit for them. They then provide ongoing support for the individual as they begin their new role, for as long as is required.
In WA, the Western Australian Association for Mental Health supports a number of sites to deliver the IPS program. You can learn more on their website.