[Sustainable Return to Work for Individuals with Mental Health Conditions: Effects of Job Protection Aftercare]

Mental health disorders increase the risk of early retirement and occupational exclusion. Individualized, needs-oriented aftercare that includes measures to stabilize employment following vocational rehabilitation can support affected individuals in transitioning into the workforce and mitigate these risks. Drawing on the JobProtection model project, this study investigated the impact of aftercare on sustainable workforce reintegration and the factors influencing long-term employment among individuals with mental health conditions.

Anonymized routine data from the German Pension Insurance Braunschweig-Hannover (n=1464) were analyzed using logistic regression. Among the sample, 113 individuals in the intervention group participated in up to 24 months of JobProtection aftercare (2019-2023) following vocational rehabilitation. The control groups, which received standard aftercare, comprised a historical group (n=688; vocational rehabilitation measures completed between 2015 and 2017) and a parallel group (n=663; vocational rehabilitation measures completed between 2019 and 2021). Sustainable workforce reintegration was defined as at least 24 months of employment, based on data from social security contributions.

The intervention group showed significantly higher chances of achieving sustainable employment. Other positive predictors of long-term workforce reintegration included older age, a longer duration of vocational rehabilitation, and the approval of a partial disability pension. In contrast, individuals granted a full disability pension or those whose pension applications were rejected had significantly lower chances of remaining employed for at least two years after vocational rehabilitation. Belonging to the parallel control group was associated with reduced chances of stable employment.

The vocational reintegration of JobProtection participants was successfully supported in the long term. Accordingly, needs-oriented aftercare may serve not only as a meaningful complement to vocational rehabilitation for individuals with mental health conditions, but also as a means of addressing a previously unmet need in care provision.