Keys to success in the labor market integration of people with mental health problems
People with or who have had a mental health condition are among the groups with the highest unemployment rates. Despite the challenges of finding employment, having a fulfilling work life is a protective factor for mental health. Working allows us to feel useful, part of a community, facilitates our connection with our surroundings and helps us build new personal relationships, structure our schedules, and maintain an active life. In other words, employment goes hand in hand with social and community inclusion, thus preventing the social and personal isolation that these individuals often experience.
Special employment centers (CETs) are companies that ensure paid work for people with a disability certificate of more than 33% and guarantee their labor integration.
The objective of a CET is productive, but its function is social since its ultimate goal is the integration of workers into the ordinary labor market.
CETs have a multidisciplinary team of professionals dedicated to the personal and social adjustment of workers. At least 70% of their staff are people with disabilities.
Working in a CET (Temporary Employment Center) offers the opportunity to adapt to certain aspects of work, but it is important to keep in mind that there is an employment contract and, therefore, a requirement for productivity and commitment to the responsible fulfillment of assigned work tasks.
There are some key aspects for the successful inclusion of people with mental disorders in the workplace from the worker's point of view:
- Before starting the challenge of labor inclusion, it is necessary that people are autonomous in basic aspects such as personal care of appearance, compliance with schedules, the ability to communicate and relate with the appropriate environment, etc.
- It is essential that, at the start of the integration process, the person has a certain level of emotional stability , especially in interpersonal relationships. In the workplace, it is necessary to be able to respond effectively to situations of pressure or conflict that may occasionally arise, or to be able to ask for help in dealing with them. The work environment can sometimes be uncertain or ambiguous, and it is important to develop the ability to adapt.
- It's important to have strong personal motivation . Once you get a job opportunity, you have to maintain it. Therefore, intense motivation is essential. Before making a job commitment, you should assess your personal interests and whether your personal circumstances will allow you to meet the job requirements.
- We need to understand our own capabilities, skills, and competencies to choose a job that allows us to feel comfortable. We must also consider that there is always room for development and improvement. Everyone has the capacity to work; we just need to figure out which job is the most suitable and what support we need. Our career expectations should be aligned with our actual capabilities.
- We need to work together for optimal adaptation. The professionals who support us in this process want to help and empower people, but it's essential that each individual has confidence in their abilities and that the process flows smoothly.
Self-leadership is fundamental to the path toward workplace inclusion, as is a commitment to continuous improvement. However, this responsibility is shared with the professional team that supports the process. In our experience, the key to this team's work lies in its dedication, which extends to two aspects: the dedication to helping the individual with mental health challenges and fostering their professional vocation for the work they perform.
Professional success depends on the ability to facilitate:
- Connections , establishing relationships that foster empowerment by building a spirit of personal value.
- Guidance and support in any life situation.
- Shared responsibility through active participation in the day-to-day activities of the CET and valuing the work they do.
- Support from technical staff in the development of job tasks, as well as psychosocial support to maintain balance between socio-emotional factors and offer support in other aspects of life.
- Skills and training adapted and individualized according to the task performed.
- Inclusion and sense of belonging with the CET, positively valuing being part of the surrounding work environment.
- Openness and flexibility to implement measures that help reconcile personal and working life, promoting equal treatment in rights and duties.
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