Finding and sustaining employment: a qualitative meta-synthesis of mental health consumer views
Ellie M Fossey1, Carol A Harvey
1School of Occupational Therapy, La Trobe University, Victoria 3086, Australia. e.fossey@latrobe.edu.au
Background:
The viewpoints of employed people experiencing mental ill-health receive limited attention in reviews of employment-related research.
Purpose:
To identify implications from studies investigating the employment-related views of people with persistent mental ill-health to guide the further development of employment supports available to this group.
Methods:
Published qualitative studies between 1998 and 2008 were searched, resulting in 20 studies for qualitative metasynthesis.
Findings:
Four themes were synthesized from the findings:(a) employment has varied meanings, benefits, and drawbacks to weigh up; (b) strategies for maintaining employment and mental health are important and both require ongoing, active self-management; (c) diverse supports within and beyond the workplace are helpful; and (d) systemic issues add to the employment barriers.
Implications:
Strategies based on these themes highlight how occupational therapists could initiate improvements in employment support and mental health services to increase their success in enabling satisfying and sustainable employment.
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