Abstract
Background: Many factors affect return to work (RTW) in employees and workers (hereinafter referred to as working people) with serious mental illness (SMI). Identifying these factors can prevent long-term sick leave absence and work disability. Aim: The current study was conducted to identify facilitators and barriers RTW in working people with SMI admitted to a psychiatric hospital and clinic affiliated with the Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Iran.Methods: A qualitative study was conducted in 2020 on 27 participants with SMI, families, supervisors, managers, and mental health team members. The participants were selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected using in-depth and semi-structured interviews. A total of 40 interviews were conducted face-to-face and fallow-up by the telephone. The interviews were based on a conventional content analysis approach.Results: Two main themes emerged, including social support and RTW's challenges. Social support consisted of four main categories: emotional support, information support, instrumental support, and supervisor's flexibility. RTW's challenges consisted of two main categories: personal obstacles and general issues.Conclusion: We found that two facilitator and barrier factors including social support and RTW's challenges affected the RTW process in working people with SMI. Identifying facilitator and barrier factors gives us comprehensive information to use in RTW programs and developing policies RTW in working people with SMI.
Job Offers to Individuals With Severe Mental Illness After Participation in Virtual Reality Job Interview Training
