Back to Work

Unemployment worsens mental health, and gaining employment can improve mental health, even for people with the most severe mental illnesses.

Drake and Wallach argue for a new mental health treatment paradigm emphasising supported employment. This evidence-based intervention can help most people with mental health disabilities succeed in integrated, competitive employment. Employment engenders self-reliance, self-confidence, personal income, and community integration and is one of the only interventions that lessen dependence on the mental health system over time. (Drake and Wallach, 2020).

Action Plan: The first step is auditing your skills and experience to determine what you feel comfortable expressing through employment, whether remotely, part-time, or full-time. You may want to take it slowly to start with, working a few hours per week and ramping up over time when you feel up to it.