A longitudinal analysis of employment in people with severe mental illnesses in India.

PURPOSE: Little is known about the longitudinal trajectories of employment in people with severe mental illnesses (SMI) in developing countries, including India. We examined stability and change in work status, interest in work, problems and benefits related to work among employed participants, and barriers and desired job supports among unemployed participants. METHODS: We conducted a one-year follow-up with 550 participants with SMI receiving psychiatric outpatient treatment in two hospitals in two districts in India. A total of 459 (83.5%) participants completed follow-up interviews. RESULTS: Rates of employment were stable across the one-year period, with over 60% employed at baseline and follow-up assessment. More than 80% who worked at both assessments were working in the same job for an average duration of 10 years. Among participants who were unemployed at baseline, 16.9% started working at follow-up, an outcome associated with interest in work and efforts to find work at baseline. Interest in work of those unemployed at both assessments was lower at follow-up than baseline, but over 60% of participants wanted to work across both assessments, and endorsed desired supports for their job search. CONCLUSIONS: There is considerable stability of work in people with SMI in India. Working in the same job for the long term may have contributed to consistent work. Most unemployed participants who wanted to work at baseline were not working at follow-up, and expressed a desire for help with job search, suggesting the need for vocational services to help people with SMI in developing countries obtain employment.

Employment functioning in people with severe mental illnesses living in urban vs. rural areas in India.

PURPOSE: Research on employment in people with severe mental illnesses (SMI) in developing countries is sparse and largely limited to employment rates. We conducted a comprehensive study of work, interest in work, and perceived benefits and barriers to work in people with SMI in India. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 550 individuals with SMI receiving private psychiatric outpatient services in two districts in western India, one urban (Pune) and the other rural (Ahmednagar). RESULTS: More than half of the participants were employed, with significantly more men working (79.4%) than women (35.9%). Higher rates of work were found in rural areas (77.8%), where most work was in family agricultural businesses, than in urban areas (48.9%), where most work was for independent employers. Participants in rural areas worked fewer hours and earned less money, and reported fewer benefits and fewer problems related to work than urban participants. Over 45% of participants working for independent employers found jobs with help from families and extended social networks. Most unemployed participants wanted to work, and desired a variety of supports, including assistance with job finding and illness management. CONCLUSIONS: Gender-specific social role expectations and families play an important role in work in people with SMI in India. Despite higher rates of work in this sample than most studies from developed countries, a significant subgroup was unemployed but wanted to work. Persons with SMI in developing countries may benefit from the adaptation of validated vocational rehabilitation approaches in developed countries to their cultural context.