Exploring the return-to-work process in working people with serious mental illness

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Occupational Health
• Rehabilitation Psychology

Background:

• Limited research exists on the return-to-work (RTW) process for individuals recovering from serious mental illness (SMI).
• Understanding the challenges and facilitators of RTW is crucial for supporting this population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the RTW process experienced by working individuals with SMI.
• To identify strategies and adaptations that facilitate sustained employment.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study employing grounded theory methodology.
• Analysis of 27 in-depth interviews using Corbin and Strauss's approach (2015).

Main Results:

• The core category identified was "syncing with an ordinary workstream."
• Sub-categories included "proceeding RTW strategies," "staying at work strategies," and "relative adaptation with work."

Conclusions:

• The "syncing with an ordinary workstream" concept offers a framework for understanding RTW in SMI.
• This framework can inform the development of new practice models to aid the RTW process for working individuals with SMI.