Challenges to employment among latino population with severe mental illness

IntroductionUnemployment is common in persons with severe mental illness (SMI) and more in Latino population. Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) of Connecticut offers a supported employment (SE) Program to help clients get competitive work in integrated settings with nondisabled workers in the community.ObjectiveCapture perspectives of key informant groups to describe barriers for linking Latinos with SMI to employment and adapt SE Services for subpopulations.MethodFour focus groups were conducted (employment specialists, case managers and peer support counselors/employers/two with clients-one in Spanish and other in English). They were conducted during January-February 2015, 70–90 minutes each one. A question guide was developed for each group. Participants per focus group ranged from 3–10, voluntarily. Two new questionnaires to the baseline pack were developed: challenges to Employment Assessment–provider and client version.ResultsThirty individuals participated. Several barriers to employment were reported. Clients and staff reported criminal record, lack of employment history and lack of motivation. Staff described client hygiene, mental status, physical health, substance abuse and discrimination. Clients, staff and employers reported language barrier for Latinos who don’t speak English. Non-adherence to medication was reported by clients and employers. About Spanish-Speaking Latinos with mental illness, medication, discrimination, previous abuse by employers, inappropriate employment, difficulties of the job interview and computer skills appeared as challenges. English-Speaking Latinos with mental illness identified transport, stability, support, keeping apartment and financial needs.ConclusionsFocus groups can help in knowledge about the diversity of Latino communities to improve SE Services and outcomes for Latinos.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

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Supported employment helps people with severe mental illness to obtain work

10.3310/signal-000525 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Keyword(s):

Mental Illness ◽

Severe Mental Illness ◽

Supported Employment

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The effects of supported employment in Latino consumers with severe mental illness.

Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal ◽

10.1037/prj0000062 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 37 (2) ◽

pp. 113-122 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Kim T. Mueser ◽

Gary R. Bond ◽

Susan M. Essock ◽

Robin E. Clark ◽

Elizabeth Carpenter-Song ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Illness ◽

Severe Mental Illness ◽

Supported Employment

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A Taxonomy for Homework Used by Mental Health Case Managers When Working with Individuals Diagnosed with Severe Mental Illness

Community Mental Health Journal ◽

10.1007/s10597-007-9097-4 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 43 (6) ◽

pp. 565-581 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Peter J. Kelly ◽

Frank P. Deane ◽

Robert King ◽

Nikolaos Kazantzis ◽

Trevor P. Crowe

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Illness ◽

Severe Mental Illness ◽

Case Managers

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Social stigma in severe mental illness in Tunisia: Clinical and socio-demographic correlates

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.eurpsy.2017.01.861 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 41 (S1) ◽

pp. S577-S577 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

U. Ouali ◽

R. Jomli ◽

R. Nefzi ◽

H. Ouertani ◽

F. Nacef

Keyword(s):

Mental Illness ◽

Severe Mental Illness ◽

Cultural Context ◽

Social Inclusion ◽

Psychiatric Patients ◽

Social Stigma ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Local Context ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Competing Interest

IntroductionMental patients generally internalize some of the negative conceptions about how most people view them: they might be considered incompetent or untrustworthy or believe that people would not want to hire, or marry someone with mental illness. A lot of research on stigma has been conducted in western countries; however, little is still known on the situation in Arab-Muslim societies.ObjectivesTo evaluate social stigma as viewed by patients suffering from severe mental illness (SMI)MethodsThis is a cross-sectional study on clinically stabilized patients with schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder (BD) according to DSM IV, who were interviewed in our out-patients clinic with the help of a semi-structured questionnaire, containing 8 opinions on the social inclusion and stigmatization of psychiatric patients, with special reference to the local cultural context (e.g.: “It is better to hide mental illness in order to preserve the reputation of my family”)ResultsWe included 104 patients, 51% with schizophrenia and 49% with BD. Mean age was 38.4 years (18–74 years); 59.6% were males. Overall social stigma scores were high. Social stigma in patients was correlated with gender, age, place of residence and diagnosis. Patients with BD showed significantly less social stigma than patients with schizophrenia.ConclusionOur results show the need for a better understanding of this phenomenon in patients with SMI, but also within Tunisian society, in order to elaborate anti stigma strategies adapted to the local context.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

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Study on covert administration of medications practices among persons with severe mental illness: A cross-sectional study

International Journal of Social Psychiatry ◽

10.1177/00207640211065675 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 002076402110656

Author(s):

Prakyath R Hegde ◽

Guru S Gowda ◽

Bhavika Vajawat ◽

Vinay Basavaraju ◽

Sydney Moirangthem ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Illness ◽

Family Functioning ◽

Severe Mental Illness ◽

Self Care ◽

Male Gender ◽

Poor Adherence ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Adherence To Medication ◽

Medication Delivery ◽

Delivery Practices

Background: Covert administration of medication (CoAdM) by caregivers to persons with severe mental illness (SMI) is a commonly observed medication delivery practice in India. Aims: This study aims to examine different medication delivery practices adopted by caregivers to provide care to SMI at times of medication refusal. Method: This study was conducted at the outpatient department between April 2019 and November 2019. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to interview the caregivers of persons with SMI to assess medication delivery practices. Results: A total of 300 caregivers were interviewed. CoAdM was practiced in 96 (32.0%) persons with SMI at least once during their lifetime, and other strategies used were pleading ( n = 105, 35.0%), lying ( n = 10, 3.3%), and threatening ( n = 154, 51.4%). Logistic regression showed that male gender (OR 4.75; CI 1.37–16.46), absent insight (OR 10.0; CI 2.01–47.56), and poor adherence to medication (OR 4.75; CI 1.31–16.92) were significantly associated with CoAdM in the last 1 year. Caregivers perceived significant improvement in self-care ( Z = −4.37, p < .01), interpersonal ( Z = −7.61, p < .01), work ( Z = −5.9, p < .01), family functioning ( Z = −7.82, p < .01) difficult behavior ( Z = −8.27, p < .01), and dependency ( Z = −6.34, p < .01) in persons with SMI with use of CoAdM. Conclusions: CoAdM was given to one in three persons with SMI at some point in their lives. Male gender, absent insight and poor adherence were predictive of CoAdM in the last 1 year. Caregiver perceived improvements in self-care, work, interpersonal, family functioning, problem behaviors, and dependency after CoAdM. Policies need to be evolved to serve all stakeholders while keeping these practices in mind.

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