Helping people with a mental illness obtain work: the Health Optimisation Program for Employment.
OBJECTIVE
Inclusion in work and education remains problematic for many people with a mental illness. We describe a structured programme - the Health Optimisation Program for Employment - that supported people with a mental illness to gain employment or commence studies.


METHODS
Twenty hours of the Health Optimisation Program for Employment were delivered to 600 individuals. Participants were asked to complete an evaluation survey encompassing vocational status and ratings of self-efficacy.


RESULTS
Of the 364 participants who completed the baseline assessment, 168 responded to the evaluation survey 6 months after the delivery of the Health Optimisation Program for Employment. Of these, 21.5% had started a new job, while a further 42.8% were either volunteering or studying. Satisfaction with the programme was high and self-efficacy ratings improved significantly over the short term only.


CONCLUSIONS
The Health Optimisation Program for Employment requires further evaluation using rigorous scientific methodology but these initial results are encouraging in terms of vocational attainment for people with a mental illness, in the Australian context.
Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, St Vincent's Hospital, Fitzroy, VIC, Australia david.castle@svha.org.au.
David
D
Castle
Social Firms Australia, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Caroline
C
Crosse
Social Firms Australia, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Dea
D
Morgain
La Trobe University Melbourne, VIC, and: Social Firms Australia, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Caitlin
C
McDowell
Brain and Psychological Sciences Research Centre, Swinburne University, Melbourne, VIC, and; Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, Alfred Hospital and Monash University Central Clinical School, Clayton, VIC, Australia.
Susan
S
Rossell
Brain and Psychological Sciences Research Centre, Swinburne University, Melbourne, VIC, and; Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, Alfred Hospital and Monash University Central Clinical School, Clayton, VIC, Australia.
Neil
N
Thomas
Department of Psychiatry, St Vincent's Hospital, Fitzroy, VIC, Australia.
Andrea
A
Phillipou
Thomas Embling Hospital, Fairfield, VIC, Australia.
Monica
M
Gilbert
Department of Psychiatry, St Vincent's Hospital, Fitzroy, VIC, Australia.
Gaye
G
Moore
Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Primary Health Care, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia.
Ellie
E
Fossey
Psychosocial Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne & North Western Mental Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Carol
C
Harvey
D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D016832:Employment, Supported / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008875:Middle Aged; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
employment; mental illness; peer educator; psychoeducation; self-efficacy; self-management; vocational rehabilitation