For many Americans, work represents more than a paycheck.
Work is a measure of our independence and a large part of our identities.
As Studs Terkel, the oral historian, said, Work is about daily meaning as well as daily bread. Yet meaningful work for a livable wage remains elusive for many people with severe mental illnesses. It wasn t until the 1980s that the mental health field recognized that most people with severe mental illnesses could hold productive jobs. It is funding both the research and the services for the first multi-site study using labor force participation data to investigate employment interventions for people with severe mental illnesses. Approaches being tested include an employer consortium, supported employment, the Clubhouse model, and family-aided assertive community treatment.