A Case Study on Outpatient Based Supported Employment for a Person with Schizophrenia

Employment is a primary goal for most people with severe mental illness. Apart from generating income, work is associated with positive mental health because it provides opportunities for skills development, social contacts, and participation in the community. Supported employment is a treatment whereby those with severe mental illness will be supported in searching for competitive employment and psychiatric treatments concurrently. Previous findings show that the individual placement and support (IPS) model of supported employment is a more practical approach to vocational rehabilitation for this population. This case study illustrates the application of the IPS model for supported employment on an outpatient basis in an under-resourced setting and how this model helped a participant go through different stages of vocational rehabilitation and supported him in obtaining and maintaining competitive employment.