Perspectives of mental healthcare providers on pathways to improved employment for persons with mental disorders in two
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International Journal of Mental Health Systems Open Access
RESEARCH
Perspectives of mental healthcare providers on pathways to improved employment for persons with mental disorders in two lower middle‑income countries Ikenna D. Ebuenyi1,2,3* , Barbara J. Regeer1 , Chinyere Aguocha4, Joske F. G. Bunders‑Aelen1 and Mònica Guxens2,3,5,6
Abstract Background: Mental disorders affect employment and the ability to work, and mental healthcare providers are important in the promotion of health and employment for affected individuals. The objective of this study is to explore the perspectives of mental healthcare providers on pathways to improved employment for persons with mental disorders in two lower middle-income countries. Methods: Our study participants included mental healthcare providers (psychiatrists, occupational physicians, psychologists, and social care workers) from Kenya and Nigeria. Qualitative interviews and a focus group discussion were conducted with 15 professionals in Kenya and online questionnaires were completed by 80 professionals from Nigeria. Results: The study participants suggested that work is important for the recovery and wellbeing of persons with mental disorders. A complex interplay of factors related to the health of persons with mental disorders and the socioeconomic system in their setting were identified as barriers to their work ability and employment. Participants proposed four pathways to improved employment: including information on reducing stigma, better healthcare, policy advocacy in employment, and government commitment to healthcare and social welfare. Public education to reduce stigma and better healthcare were the highest reported facilitators of employment. Conclusions: Persons with mental disorders require multilevel support and care in obtaining and retaining employ‑ ment. A better mental healthcare system is essential for the employment of persons with mental disorders. Keywords: Healthcare providers, Work ability, Employment, Improved healthcare, Government commitment Background At a global level, studies indicate that mental disorders adversely affects employment and the ability to work [1, 2], and the rate of employment is higher for those who *Correspondence: [email protected] 1 Athena Institute, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands Full list of author information is available at the end of the article
are receiving treatment [3, 4]. Work ability refers to the extent to which a person is physically or mentally fit to meet the demands at the workplace [5], and it is affected by both common and severe mental disorders [3, 6]. It is pertinent to state that work and employment are different. While work includes all activities undertaken to produce goods and services for personal use or others, employment is a specific kind of work for pay or profit [7]. Hence, in this study work ability is different from employment; while the former refers to the person’s
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