People who suffer from mental illness can find help looking for work through a national plan designed for their specific needs.
The Individual Placement Support Program (IPS) is designed to help veterans find work by going directly to commununity based organizations. Instead of controlling decisions from a national base, IPS uses local organizations that work directly with the mentally ill. This eliminates red tape and elongated processes that can be frustrating for the individuals the programs are designed to help.
A recent study on the employment prospects of veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder showed tremendous success. Veterans enrolled in the IPS program were three times more likely to gain a competitive employment than those in more conventional vocational rehabilitation programs.
IPS is not just for veterans, however. Anyone suffering from mental illness looking for employment is eligible. The jobs are often integrated with mental health treatment services. This is designed so clients just don’t find work, they stay working.
For more information contact the National Alliance Mental Illness at www.nami.org.