Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Employment and Mental Health Service Utilization in Washington State

  • Regular Article
  • Published:
The Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study examined employment among individuals utilizing publicly funded mental health services in Washington State during a 2-year period through the analysis of archival administrative data. The mean income found in this study was higher than that reported in the supported employment literature. This difference likely reflects the inclusion of individuals with less severe mental illness and ongoing employment who are typically excluded from studies of supported employment. Individuals in this study were employed in all industrial sectors in a distribution similar to the general population, although somewhat over-represented in service industries. Employment rates varied from 15% to 21% over a 3-year period and did not appear to increase after treatment. Employment rates tended to decline after the receipt of public support. Among individuals who lost employment, service utilization was found to increase prior to the loss of employment. Policy implications are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Figure 1
Figure 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Bond GR, Resnick SG, Drake RE, et al. Does competitive employment improve nonvocational outcomes for people with severe mental illness? Journal of Consulting & Clinical Psychology. 2001;69(3):489–501.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Mueser KT, Becker DR, Torrey WC, et al. Work and nonvocational domains of functioning in persons with severe mental illness: A longitudinal analysis. Journal of Nervous & Mental Disease. 1997;185(7):419–426.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Van Dongen CJ. Quality of life and self-esteem in working and nonworking persons with mental illness. Community Mental Health Journal. 1996;32(6):535–548.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Arns PG, Linney JA. Work, self, and life satisfaction for persons with severe and persistent mental disorders. Psychosocial Rehabilitation Journal. 1993;17(2):63–79.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Bell MD, Lysaker PH. Clinical benefits of paid work activity in schizophrenia: 1-year follow-up. Schizophrenia Bulletin. 1997;23:317–328.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Bell MD, Milstein RM, Lysaker PH. Pay and participation in work activity: Clinical benefits for clients with schizophrenia. Psychosocial Rehabilitation Journal. 1993;17(2):173–177.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Lehman A. Vocational rehabilitation in schizophrenia. Schizophrenia Bulletin. 1995;21(4):645–656.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Rogers ES, Anthony WA, Toole J, et al. Vocational outcomes following psychosocial rehabilitation: A longitudinal study of three programs. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation. 1991;1(3):21–29.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Honey A. Benefits and drawbacks of employment: Perspectives of people with mental illness. Qualitative Health Research. 2004;14(3):381–395.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Cook JA, Pickett SA. Recent trends in vocational rehabilitation for people with psychiatric disability. American Rehabilitation. 1994;20(4):2–12.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Bond GR, McDonel EC. Vocational rehabilitation outcomes for persons with psychiatric disabilities: An update. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation. 1991;1(3):9–20.

    Google Scholar 

  12. National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research. Consensus Statement, 1(3). Washington, DC: National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research; 1992.

    Google Scholar 

  13. National Institute of Mental Health. Caring for People with Severe Mental Disorders: A National Plan of Research to Improve Services. DHHS Pub No. (ADM)91-1762. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office; 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Drake RE, Fox TS, Leather PK, et al. Regional variation in competitive employment for persons with severe mental illness. Administration & Policy in Mental Health. 1998;25(5):493–504.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Bond GR, Drake RE, Mueser KT, et al. An update of supported employment for people with severe mental illness. Psychiatric Services. 1997;48(3):335–346.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Rapp CA, Huff S, Hansen K. The New Hampshire financing policy. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal. 2003;26(4):385–391.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors. Five State Feasibility Study on State Mental Health Agency Performance Measures: Draft Executive Summary. Alexandria, VA: National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors Research Institute; 1998.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Rutman ID. How psychiatric disability expresses itself as a barrier to employment. Psychosocial Rehabilitation Journal 1994; 17(3):15–35.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Jacobs HE, Wissusik D, Collier R, et al. Correlations between psychiatric disabilities and vocational outcome. Hospital & Community Psychiatry. 1992;43(4):365–369.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Anthony WA, Blanch A. Supported employment for persons who are psychiatrically disabled: An historical and conceptual perspective. Psychosocial Rehabilitation Journal. 1987;11(2):5–23.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Mechanic D, Bilder S, McAlpine DD. Employing persons with serious mental illness. Health Affairs. 2002;21(5):242–253.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Sturm R, Gresenz CR, Pacula RL, et al. Labor force participation by persons with mental illness. Psychiatric Services. 1999;50(11):1407.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Waghorn G, Lloyd C. The Employment of People with Mental Illness. Marleston, South Australia: Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia, Inc.; 2005.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Local area unemployment statistics: Washington, not seasonally adjusted. Series ID: LAUST53000003. Available at: http://www.bls.gov/lau/home.htm; 2005.

  25. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Current population survey: employment status of the civilian noninstitutional population, 1940 to date. Available at: http://www.bls.gov/cps/home.htm; 2005.

  26. Crain T. Vocational Services Plan. Seattle: King County Mental Health, Chemical Abuse and Dependency Services Division, Department of Community and Human Services; 2002.

  27. Brimner K. Fiscal Year 2005 Mental Health Block Grant Report. Olympia, WA: Mental Health Division, Washington State Department of Social and Health Services; 2005.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Lutterman T, Ganju V, Schact L, et al. 16 State Study on Mental Health Performance Measures. Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Mental Health Services; 2003.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Office of the Federal Register. Federal Register. 1993;58(96):29422–29425.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Yen W, Mayfield J. Long-term Outcomes of Public Mental Health Clients: Additional Baseline Characteristics. Olympia, WA: Washington State Institute for Public Policy; 2005.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Luchansky B, He L. Employment Outcomes of Chemical Dependency Treatment: Analyses from Washington State. Olympia, WA: Washington State Department of Social and Health Services; 2002.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Wickizer TM, Campbell K, Krupski A, et al. Employment outcomes among AFDC recipients treated for substance abuse in Washington state. Milbank Quarterly. 2000;78(4):585–608.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Drebing CE, Fleitas R, Moore A, et al. Patterns in work functioning and vocational rehabilitation associated with coexisting psychiatric and substance use disorder. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin. 2002;46(1):5–13.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Brekke JS, Long JD. Community-based psychosocial rehabilitation and prospective change in functional, clinical, and subjective experience variables in schizophrenia. Schizophrenia Bulletin. 2000;26(3):667–680.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Carpenter WT, Strauss JS. The prediction of outcome in schizophrenia: IV. Eleven-year follow-up of the Washington IPSS cohort. Journal of Nervous & Mental Disease. 1991;179(9):517–525.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Resnick SG, Neale MS, Rosenheck RA. Impact of public support payments, intensive psychiatric community care, and program fidelity on employment outcomes for people with severe mental illness. Journal of Nervous & Mental Disease. 2003;191(3):139–144.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Drew D, Drebing CE, Van Ormer A, et al. Effects of disability compensation on participation in and outcomes of vocational rehabilitation. Psychiatric Services. 2001;52(11):1479–1484.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Rosenheck R, Frisman L, Sindelar J. Disability compensation and work among veterans with psychiatric and nonpsychiatric impairments. Psychiatric Services. 1995;46(4):359–365.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Becker DR, Drake RE, Farabaugh A, et al. Job preferences of clients with severe psychiatric disorders participating in supported employment programs. Psychiatric Services. 1996;47(11):1223–1226.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. National Governors Association. Issue Brief: Strategies States Can Use to Employ Persons with Mental Illness. Washington, DC: National Governors Association; 2003.

    Google Scholar 

  41. Tremblay T, Smith J, Xie H, et al. The impact of specialized benefits counseling services on social security administration disability beneficiaries in Vermont. Journal of Rehabilitation. 2004;70(2):5–11.

    Google Scholar 

  42. Aron L, Burt M, Wittenburg D. Recommendations to the Social Security Administration on the Design of the Mental Health Treatment Study. Washington, DC: The Urban Institute; 2005.

    Google Scholar 

  43. Alterman AI, Langenbucher J, Morrison RL. State-level treatment outcome studies using administrative databases. Evaluation Review. 2001;25(2):162–183.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We thank Ted Lamb, Greg Kline, and Bruce Stegner for help with data preparation and Katie Weaver-Randall and Ron Jemelka for helpful comments.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Department of Psychology, Uhler Hall, Indiana, PA, 15705, USA

    Gordon Hannah PhD

Authors
  1. Gordon Hannah PhD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Judy Hall PhD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gordon Hannah PhD.

Additional information

Judy Hall, PhD, is a research director for the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services, Mental Health Division, 14th and Jefferson, PO Box 45320, Olympia 98504-5320, WA, USA. Phone: +1-360-9020874. Fax: +1-360-9027691. E-mail: HallJJ@dshs.wa.gov.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hannah, G., Hall, J. Employment and Mental Health Service Utilization in Washington State. JBHSR 33, 287–303 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11414-006-9026-2

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11414-006-9026-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation