SE-SURG
South Essex Service User Research Group
Employment - what's it got to do with mental health?
Our claim to fame!
Still dreaming: Service users’ employment , education & training goals
The South Essex Service User Research Group (SE-SURG), Jenny Secker, & Leslie Gelling
Journal of Mental Health, February 2006
Influencing Employment Strategy in South Essex
A Service User Research Project
Service users' employment goals and needs - a service user research project
The survey
Different perspectives researchers
respondent
administrator
Aim
To inform the development of vocational services in South Essex by ascertaining service users’ employment, education and training goals.
Method
• Face to face interviews• Postal questionnaires
Results
82 face to face interviews
159 responses to postal questionnaire
• 43% - no regular daytime activity• 15% - in paid work
• 61% - interested in finding work
• 77% - of those interested in working receiving no vocational
support
Perceived Barriers to Work
• Employers’ attitudes• Threat to benefits
All identified multiple barriers
• Lack of skills• Health problems• Lack of work experience• Insufficient support• Age• Fear mental health services will be withdrawn• Stigma-attitudes of public & colleagues & fear of disclosure
Conclusions & Recommendations
• High numbers of mental health service users are interested in pursuing employment, education or training goals but lack the support they need to do so
• Implementation of an evidence based approach to employment support has the potential to enable service users to attain their goals
Further OutcomesService users are able to undertake such research with considerable benefits for themselves and other stakeholders
Added value for
• Participants• Commissioners• Service User Researchers
– gained insight and understanding– broadened knowledge and skills– increased confidence and self esteem – financial reward– CV– employment outcomes
SE-SURG
South Essex Service User Research Group