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@MHCC
OTTAWA OFFICE
Suite 600, 100 Sparks Street Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5B7 Tél : 613.683.3755 Téléc : 613.798.2989
Supported Employment
WHAT IS THE
ASPIRING WORKFORCE?
Those people who have been unable to enter the workforce, have been in and out of the workforce, or are attempting to return to work after being away for a lengthy period of time due to a mental health problem or illness.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
To learn how policy makers and others can help improve disability policies, check out The Aspiring Workforce: Employment and Income for People with Serious Mental Illness at www.mentalhealthcommission.ca.
The report includes recommendations for supported employment programs and related benefi ts.
FACTS
• People with jobs are healthier and have higher self-esteem.
• Most people can be gainfully employed if provided with the proper supports.
Supported employment is often provided by a variety of mental health professionals, who assist people in fi nding work that they are interested in doing. This group of professionals continues to give support to the person once they are employed.
CHALLENGES
• Access to supported employment opportunities is limited.
• More funding and research are required.
Supported employment works – what’s needed now is to get it working for even more Canadians.
Many people living with serious mental illnesses have the capabilities to contribute to society through work, and each has something unique to off er. Yet without the right support, fi nding and keeping a job can be incredibly challenging.
That’s where a proven approach, such as supported employment, can make a signifi cant diff erence.
The information in this hand out has been cited from The Aspiring Workforce: Employment and Income for People with Serious Mental Illness. The publication was produced by the Mental Health Commission of Canada, in collaboration with the Centre for Mental Health and Addiction, the University of Toronto and Queen’s University.
The views represented herein solely represent the views of the Mental Health Commission of Canada. Production of this document is made possible through a fi nancial contribution from Health Canada.
