Effective Interventions for Employment: A Systematic Review for Individuals with Disabling Conditions of Severe Mental Illnesses

Background Individuals with disabilities encounter various obstacles to employment, including both environmental barriers and challenges related to work skills. Objective The aim of this work is to review the literature on effective interventions that support individuals with disabling mental issues in securing and retaining employment. Method To guarantee the inclusion of the most recent evidence, we specifically focused on articles published in English between 2014 and 2024. A total of 26 relevant studies were included in this review. Results We first explore the impact of interventions aimed at disability in the broader sense, such as Integrated Practical Placement, Direct Skills Teaching, and Traditional Vocational Rehabilitation. We then focus on interventions for people with a disabling mental illness: well-known approaches such as Supported Employment and Individual Placement and Support work well, but innovative interventions are emerging, such as psychotherapy, peer support program and Vocational Empowerment Photovoice. Involving family members and the work environment is key, while approaches focused solely on information did not have any impact. Conclusion Employment offers vital economic resources, but most importantly it also fulfils psychosocial needs by reducing the risk of social isolation and poverty. Therefore, examining effective employment interventions for individuals with disabling, serious conditions of mental illness is undeniably a critical matter.