Who Benefits Most From Individual Placement and Support (IPS) Employment Programs?

What you need to know

• IPS helps people with mental illness find and keep competitive jobs, regardless of their diagnosis or symptoms
• The program is particularly effective for those with severe mental illness and lower symptom severity
• While still beneficial, IPS shows somewhat less impact for those with common mental disorders like depression and anxiety

The Challenge of Finding Work with Mental Illness

Finding and keeping a job can be especially challenging for people living with mental illness. Yet employment plays a crucial role in recovery - it provides income, builds self-esteem, and helps people feel connected to their community. Individual Placement and Support (IPS) was developed to help people with severe mental illness succeed in competitive employment. But does it work equally well for everyone?

What is IPS?

IPS is an evidence-based approach that helps people with mental illness find and maintain competitive employment. It follows eight core principles:

• Focus on competitive employment
• Zero exclusion - anyone who wants to work can participate
• Rapid job search based on individual preferences
• Integration with mental health treatment
• Personalized benefits counseling
• Systematic job development
• Time-unlimited support
• Attention to worker preferences

Who Benefits Most?

This meta-analysis examined 32 studies involving over 7,600 participants to understand who benefits most from IPS. Key findings include:

• IPS improved employment outcomes for all groups studied
• People with severe mental illnesses like schizophrenia showed particularly strong results
• Those with lower symptom severity at the start also did especially well
• While still beneficial, results were somewhat less dramatic for those with common mental disorders like depression and anxiety
• European studies showed smaller effects than studies in other regions, possibly due to differences in benefit systems

Geographic and Program Variations

Some interesting patterns emerged around where and how IPS was implemented:

• European programs showed somewhat lower success rates compared to other regions
• This may be due to more generous disability benefits creating a “benefits trap”
• Programs that maintained high fidelity to the IPS model showed better results
• Integration with mental health services appeared important for success

What This Means for You

If you or someone you know is considering IPS, keep these points in mind:

• IPS can help regardless of diagnosis or symptoms
• Don’t let having a severe mental illness discourage you - these groups often show excellent results
• Look for programs that follow the core IPS principles closely
• Consider how benefits might be affected and get good benefits counseling
• Expect the process to take time and require ongoing support
• Remember that IPS can be adapted to individual needs while maintaining its core approach

Conclusions

• IPS is effective across a wide range of mental health conditions and circumstances
• Results are particularly strong for those with severe mental illness and lower symptom severity
• While still helpful, the program may need adaptations to better serve those with common mental disorders
• Integration with mental health services and high program fidelity appear important for success