For people living with mental health conditions
The ability to concentrate, plan and problem solve can play a key role in finding and keeping meaningful work. For some people living with mental health conditions, such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, these skills can be improved through an approach such as cognitive remediation.
WISE IDEA delivers programs that can help participants with their thinking skills (such as memory, concentration and problem solving) so they can be more confident and skilled to work, volunteer or achieve other goals.
Programs for people living with mental health conditions include:
Employ Your Mind (EYM)
EYM is an engaging and collaborative way to build skills for work consisting of one on one and group sessions. Participants build key thinking skills (such as concentration, memory, planning and problem solving) and learn how to harness their strengths to achieve their goals for work and study. The EYM program uses an evidence-based approach called cognitive remediation (CR) and is delivered in four phases, each lasting 6 weeks. Phase 1 consists of weekly individual sessions, with the remaining phases conducted in a group setting with two 1.5 hour sessions a week.
For: People living with mental health conditions who would like to improve their thinking and employment related skills
Acknowledgment: EYM was originally developed by the Fife Employment Access Trust (FEAT) and has been adapted to the Australian context. WISE IDEA is the sole EYM trainer in Australia and New Zealand.
Optimal Health Program (OHP)
The OHP is an 8-session evidence-based health-management and wellbeing program designed to help participants understand and manage their mental, emotional, social, occupational, physical and spiritual health. The program supports people to develop the skills to manage their health and wellbeing in all aspects of their life (including work or study) through reflection, discussion and the development of health plans. The supportive program can be delivered in both group and individual settings.
For: People living with mental health conditions
Acknowledgements: The Optimal Health Program is delivered in collaboration with Melbourne Psychologists, Clarity Health Care
Identifying if a person would benefit from a Mental Health and Employment Assessment
This is a time effective way to identify people that will most benefit from Key2Work (a Mental Health and Employment Assessment by an Occupational Therapist (OT)). The OT explores goals, strengths and what a person would like to achieve from employment. The session also includes brief questionnaires about how someone feels their health condition affects their ability to work and participate in social activities, and whether they may benefit from support with their thinking (e.g. ability to focus, memory, etc.) and other areas such as communication.
For: People living with mental health conditions
Key2Work
WISE IDEA OTs engage people in a 1:1 assessment process using evidence-based approaches and tools. This can be useful for people with complex mental health conditions (such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder) who may be experiencing significant challenges and barriers to work. The information obtained in the Assessment informs a tailored Vocational Plan which identifies specific strategies building on the person’s strengths, addresses the person’s barriers and difficulties, and outlines a pathway to achieve their vocational goals. The Assessment can also identify reasonable adjustments that can be implemented in the workplace setting.
For: People living with mental health conditions
Mental Health and Employment Support
These individually delivered sessions are generally held following a person participating in Key2Work. They provide one-off or longer-term support to the person to achieve their vocational goals. This targeted support focuses on building skills in specific areas, such as effective workplace interaction, ‘reading the room’, concentration, problem solving, using initiative etc in the same way that adaptive (e.g.: technology) or compensatory techniques can be used for people with physical or sensory disabilities.
For: People living with mental health conditions
For support workers
Many people living with mental health conditions report employment is an important goal yet this group has the lowest employment rate (13%) (Thomas, 2022) with studies reporting almost half leave or lose their jobs within 6–8 months (Suijkerbuijk, 2017).
WISE IDEA programs can provide mental health, NDIS, psychosocial disability and inclusive employment support workers the skills and support they need to provide evidence-based interventions that will enable clients to achieve their employment orientated goals.
Programs for support workers include:
Employ Your Mind (EYM) - Train the Coach
Employ Your Mind (EYM) is a vocational rehabilitation program that integrates evidence-based cognitive remediation into program delivery. WISE IDEA’s Employ Your Mind (EYM)-Train the Coach program builds the skills of staff in mental health support services to deliver the EYM program. WISE IDEA provides training, materials and support including group supervision for staff so that they can deliver EYM in their own services.
For: Mental health support workers (WISE IDEA can train facilitators with a Master’s or Bachelor‘s Degree in a mental health field and/or those with experience in adult mental health group facilitation including peer workers.)
Mental Health and Employment Advice and Support
WISE IDEA’s Occupational Therapists provide regular consultation and feedback to support workers, managers, supervisors and employers on how to best support employees who have disclosed they have a mental health condition. This can be done in groups and individually. This assistance can be provided pre-and post-employment commencement. Benefits include:
- a proactive approach and timely response to concerns as they arise
- development of knowledge, skills and confidence over time
- staff feeling supported in their work, knowing they can draw on advice when out of their depth and require mental health vocational expertise
- continuity of approach for the consumer/client when there is a turnover of staff
- consistent level of expertise available
- evidence-based strategies wherever possible
- identification of and referral pathway for federal and state-funded support services
- staff not having to navigate complex mental health or employment systems themselves
For: Mental health/NDIS/psychosocial disability/disability employment support workers and clinicians & managers, supervisors and employers
Customised education/training sessions
Development and delivery of education and information sessions focused on specific topics that can be embedded in services’ or businesses’ training programs. WISE IDEA tailors the best available evidence to the audience and their needs when developing customised sessions.
Examples:
- A session about how different mental health conditions might affect people in the workplace, and what staff can do to support them
- A session exploring how conditions such as schizophrenia can affect cognition and communication, and how to best support and provide accommodations for employees with difficulties in these areas
For: Mental health/NDIS/psychosocial disability/disability employment teams & managers, supervisors and employers
For employers
Becoming an employer of choice for people with mental health conditions is not just about social responsibility—it's also a smart business strategy.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, 20 %, or 4.8 million Australians had a mental or behavioural condition in the 2017-18 financial year. So, by prioritising mental health in the workplace you are more likely to retain current staff who are living with mental health conditions, as well as widening the pool of talent when looking to recruit. Your business will also receive the benefits of being more reflective of the community you serve.
Research has highlighted several qualities that employees with mental health conditions bring to the workplace including "insight, respect, knowledge and honesty around their mental illness, creativity, confidence, professionalism, trustworthiness, supportiveness, resilience and credibility." (Source)
Programs for employers include:
Mental Health and Employment Advice and Support
Customised education/training sessions
Development and delivery of education and information sessions focused on specific topics that can be embedded in services’ or businesses’ training programs. WISE IDEA tailors the best available evidence to the audience and their needs when developing customised sessions.
Examples:
- A session about how different mental health conditions might affect people in the workplace, and what staff can do to support them
- A session exploring how conditions such as schizophrenia can affect cognition and communication, and how to best support and provide accommodations for employees with difficulties in these areas
For: Mental health/NDIS/psychosocial disability/disability employment teams & managers, supervisors and employers
Get in touch
Send us an email if your business is looking for assistance to enjoy the benefits of a more diverse workforce
Social Cognition Interaction Training (SCIT)
SCIT is a 20-session group rehabilitation program that aims to improve communication not only at work, but also with friends, family and others in the community, contributing to overall wellbeing. It is not a social skills training program, but an approach that assists the development of ‘social thinking’ including:
For: People living with mental health conditions and co-occurring neurodivergent conditions and who would like to improve their social thinking and interaction skills
Acknowledgements: SCIT was originally developed by David Roberts, David Penn and Dennis Combs from the University of North Carolina