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A Randomised Controlled Trial of Evidence Based Supported Employment for People Who have Recently been Homeless and have a Mental Illness

Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research volume 44, pages 217–224 (2017)Cite this article

Abstract

Individual placement and support (IPS) has not been tested experimentally among people recently housed with a scattered-site Housing First program. Ninety recently housed people were randomized to IPS or usual services. Regression models estimated via GEE were used to compare employment outcomes. Over 8 months of follow-up with good fidelity, fifteen (34 %) people in the IPS group versus nine (22 %) in the control group found competitive employment (p = 0.16). Adjusted odds of obtaining competitive employment were greater in the IPS group (OR 2.42, 95 %CI 1.13–5.16). Other employment outcomes were not significantly different between groups. Satisfaction with services was greater in the group receiving IPS. In this study, IPS was a modestly useful adjunct to scattered-site Housing First for people with mental illness who have been homeless.

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Acknowledgments

This study was made possible through a financial contribution from Health Canada to the Mental Health Commission of Canada for the conduct of the At Home/Chez Soi Research and Demonstration Project on Mental Health and Homelessness. The authors thank Jayne Barker (2008–2011), Ph.D., Cameron Keller (2011–2012), and Catharine Hume (2012-present), Mental Health Commission of Canada, At Home/Chez Soi National Project Leads, Paula Goering, Ph.D., National Research Lead, the National Research Team, as well as housing and clinical providers associated with the Douglas Mental Health University Institute, CSSS Jeanne-Mance and Diogène. The authors also thank the Montreal site research coordinator, Cécile Leclercq, Ph.D., and Véronique Denis, M.Sc., field research coordinator, and their team of interviewers, for assistance in implementing the study. The authors also thank Drs. Gary Bond and Robert Drake for helpful comments on an early draft, and Drs. Andrea Benedetti and Erika Braithwaite for statistical advice. And last but not least, the authors thank the participants who agreed to be interviewed. The views expressed herein solely represent those of the authors.

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Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada

    Daniel Poremski & Eric Latimer

  2. Douglas Mental Health University Institute, 6875 Boul. LaSalle, Perry 3C, Montreal, QC, H4H 1R3, Canada

    Daniel Poremski, Daniel Rabouin & Eric Latimer

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  1. Daniel Poremski
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  2. Daniel Rabouin
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  3. Eric Latimer
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Correspondence to Daniel Poremski.

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Poremski, D., Rabouin, D. & Latimer, E. A Randomised Controlled Trial of Evidence Based Supported Employment for People Who have Recently been Homeless and have a Mental Illness. Adm Policy Ment Health 44, 217–224 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-015-0713-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-015-0713-2

Keywords

  • Evidence-based supported employment
  • Homelessness
  • Mental health