Abstract
Work holds a central importance in an individual’s life, providing direct economic and social benefits and contributing to self-esteem and quality of life. For the three to four million people whose functioning is impaired by significant mental disorders (SMDs), employment remains an important but often elusive goal. Although the data on labor force participation rates among persons with SMDs do vary, periodic studies reported in the literature suggest that only from 15% to 50% of these individuals are employed competitively (Anthony, 1994; National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, 1999). For more than 50 years, the public vocational rehabilitation (VR) program has been actively involved in helping people with significant mental health disorders to enter or re-enter competitive employment. The purpose of this chapter is to describe the role of the public VR program in facilitating employment for people with SMDs, and to provide examples of collaborative solutions and recommendations through case illustrations.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
