Entering the competitive workforce is viewed almost universally as the best possible work outcome for the mentally well. Our jobs partially define our identities, and the fact of working is evidence that a person is a contributing member of society.
Work gives structure to our days, something to do, and money to pay our way.
It can be stressful, but it is also a potent source of social interaction and self-esteem. Sigmund Freud defined mental health as the ability to love and work. It follows that one of the goals for mentally ill individuals seeking to recover from the illnesses which limit them is to develop the capacity, and have the opportunity, to work. In order to identify the types of vocational programs currently being operated by mental health programs in the western states, seven state-level program directors who oversee the work and education programs in their states, were interviewed. Several recurrent themes emerged from the interviews.