Work as a mechanism for reintegrating persons with serious mental illness

According to WHO, more than 500 million people around the world are afflicted with serious mental illness, alcoholism and/or drug addiction. Expressed differently, 1.5-2% of the population of each country has to face this issue.

According to ILO (43), mental illness hits more human lives and gives rise to a greater waste of human resources than all other forms of disability. The unemployment rate of this group is around 90% — in contrast to that of persons with physical or sensorial disabilities, which is approximately 50%.

Again, expressed differently, only 10% of persons with a serious psychiatric background who wish to work and are judged capable of working are in fact working. Women fare less well than men.

It has long been known that severe mental illness often impairs dramatically one’s capacity to work and to earn a living. It can lead to impoverishment, which in turn may worsen the illness.

Thus, all efforts to find employment for these persons are essential since they improve quality of life and reduce both impoverishment and the high service and welfare costs engendered by this group.

Source:

http://www.who.int/mental_health/media/en/712.pdf