Built on a psychosocial rehabilitation model, supported education addresses problems related to achieving educational success, such as managing stress, improving academic skills, problem solving, self confidence, and career development. Its aim is to help students overcome the obstacles that prevent them from successfully completing their higher education. Attain their highest potential and succeed in their efforts. No longer are they devalued psychiatric patients. Participants experience a new and normalizing environment on college campuses.
Students develop and participate in the structure afforded by a meaningful program.
Students receive supports needed to focus on their educational goals. By working towards a degree, supported education participants begin on a career path with a clean slate. Most importantly, supported education students feel a renewed sense of hope for their futures. The onset of psychiatric disabilities, generally occurs between the ages of 17 and 25 - the same years in which many young adults leave home to explore careers through educational opportunities. Kessler et al.