Employment services as an early intervention for young people with mental illness.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the service characteristics and effectiveness of a segregated employment service assisting young clients with mental illness in New Zealand.


METHODS
The service assisted both youth and adults with severe mental illness to find and keep competitive employment. A retrospective case study method was used to examine service effectiveness with respect to employment outcomes attained by 49 clients aged 16–25 years over a 2-year period (2005–2007). These results were compared with recent national and international benchmarks.


RESULTS
As a service segregated from public mental health services, there were no formal arrangements with local mental health teams, limiting coordination of services and reducing fidelity to evidence-based practices in supported employment. Despite an inability to collaborate closely with local community mental health services and a contract not specifically targeting youth, the service was high performing on a range of employment outcome variables.


CONCLUSIONS
Subject to some study design and benchmarking limitations, these results support the continuing use of evidence-based practices in supported employment and supported education as important early interventions for young people with mental illnesses.
Workwise Employment Ltd, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Deborah J
DJ
Browne
Geoffrey
G
Waghorn
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016832:Employment, Supported / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D009520:New Zealand; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012050:Rehabilitation, Vocational / Q000379:methods*