BACKGROUNDER
For Immediate Distribution
The Aspiring Workforce Report
Ottawa, Ontario | Wednesday, October 9, 2013|
A definition of The Aspiring Workforce
The term Aspiring Workforce describes those people who have been unable to enter the workforce due to a mental illness, or who are in and out of the workforce due to episodic illness, or who wish to return to work after a lengthy period of illness. These people are as diverse as other Canadians in their life experiences and identities, and come from all regions and cultural and linguistic groups. Like any other Canadian, they share a desire and need for meaningful employment and a sustainable income.
The project is supported by the Mental Health Strategy for Canada and the importance of employment and recovery:
3.5.3 Enhance supports for people living with mental health problems and illnesses to pursue education and obtain work.
3.5.4 Make disability benefit programs more adaptable to the individual needs of people living with mental health problems and illnesses, and remove financial disincentives that hinder their return to work or school
Project overview
The Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) contracted the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) to undertake The Aspiring Workforce research project, in collaboration with researchers from the University of Toronto and Queen’s University. The intent of the project is to identify existing and innovative practices that will help people living with serious mental illness to secure and sustain meaningful employment or a sustainable income.
Five sections of The Aspiring Workforce
Supported Employment: A Review of the Literature and Canadian Perspectives
Supported employment is an approach to helping people with serious mental illness find and keep jobs in the community. The report identifies 19 recommendations for policy makers, funders, researchers and providers of supported employment programs based on findings from the literature, client interviews, and service provider survey results.
Aspiring Workforce Report finding on Supported Employment
Supported employment works – what is needed now is to get it working for even more Canadians.
Access to supported employment opportunities is limited, and more funding and research are required.
An Overview of Provincial Disability Programs and Work Incentives/Disincentives This section describes the types of disability benefit programs offered by the provinces and
characteristics of programs that could represent incentives or disincentives to competitive employment.
The report states that well designed government programs promote greater participation in the workforce and that people receiving social assistance and disability supports who work should not be subject to punishing disincentives.
Aspiring Workforce Report finding on Provincial Disability Programs
Policy changes are needed to create disability programs that provide incentives for returning to work, yet remain as a safety net for those who do become employed or maintain their employment.
Environmental Scan of Social Businesses
Social businesses are commercial ventures that market goods and services to the public and use this economic activity to achieve social outcomes. The report includes an environmental scan of 100 social businesses developed to create employment opportunities for people with mental illness across Canada and in-depth case studies of six longstanding social businesses. It also offers recommendations for continued development of social businesses in Canada.
Aspiring Workforce Report finding on Social Businesses
There are approximately 100 social businesses operating across Canada, but with a formal organizing structure to promote communication and collaboration among them, social businesses could be further developed to benefit more Canadians. The development of such a network is just one way to advance their growth, but every solution will require an investment of funding and resources.
A Legislative Model of Income Supports for People with Mental Illness
This section includes a review of disability support policies across Canada and internationally, as well as interviews with key stakeholders in disability supports. It concludes the current policy environment in Canada often exacerbates the link between disability and exclusion and offers recommendations based
on information about policies that have successfully improved workforce outcomes for people with disabilities.
Aspiring Workforce Report finding on the Legislative Model
Disability income support programs were not designed with mental illnesses in mind, but policy reforms in a number of countries have led to improved workforce outcomes for people with disabilities – we know this can be done. Implementing change successfully in Canada will require collaboration by all sectors, including government, mental health partners, employers, and society.
Workplace Know-How
The project defines Workplace Know-How as the knowledge and skills that people with serious mental illness need for the creation of a working life, including finding and keeping work, and ongoing career and educational development. The purpose was to determine the full array of support services that a member of the Aspiring Workforce would require in order to successfully enter and keep employment.
This section was informed by a survey of Aspiring Workforce members, interviews with key stakeholder and a review of related literature.
Aspiring Workforce Report finding on Workplace Know-How
Supporting the aspiring workforce with the knowledge and self-management strategies that will help people to best succeed at work is an important piece of the employment puzzle.
ABOUT THE MENTAL HEALTH COMMISSION OF CANADA
The Mental Health Commission of Canada is a catalyst for change. We are collaborating with hundreds of partners to change the attitudes of Canadians toward mental health problems and to improve services and support. Our goal is to help people who live with mental health problems and illnesses lead meaningful and productive lives. Together we create change.
The Mental Health Commission of Canada is funded by Health Canada.
www.mentalhealthcommission.ca | strategy.mentalhealthcommission.ca
Contact:
Kyle Marr, Senior Communications Specialist Mental Health Commission of Canada Office: 403-385‐4050
Mobile: 587-226‐8782
kmarr@mentalhealthcommission.ca
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The views represented herein solely represent the views of the Mental Health Commission of Canada.
Production of this document is made possible through a financial contribution from Health Canada.
