Mental Health Management for Job Seekers with a Mental Illness:

Health Optimisation Program for Employment (HOPE)

Outline• Challenges faced by job seekers with mental

illness • Self Efficacy

– What does it mean for someone looking for work/currently working?

– What does it mean for someone living with a mental illness?

– What factors influence self efficacy?• Implications for LEAP project/HOPE program

Challenges faced by job seekers with mental illness

• Episodic/dynamic nature of mental illness

• Stigma/fear of stigma• Concerns around disclosure• Symptoms/side effects of medication

may impact energy levels, concentration, memory, motivation, etc…

Self Efficacy

• “belief that one is capable of performing in a certain manner to attain certain goals” (Ormrod, 2006)

• “belief that one’s actions have an effect on the environment”

Self Efficacy

• What does it mean?– Self efficacy vs. self esteem– Self efficacy vs. confidence

Consider…

• What does self efficacy mean for someone looking for work/currently working?

• What does it mean for someone living with a mental illness?

What influences self efficacy?

1. Mastery experience2. Modeling3. Social Influence4. Physiological Factors

(Bandura, 1977)

LEAP Partnerships

Clinical Mental Health Services Psychiatric Disability Rehabilitation Service (PDRS)

Personal Helpers and Mentors (PHaMs) Disability Employment Services

LEAP Partnerships

Enhance service integrationDeliver Health Optimisation

Program for Employment (HOPE)

Provide wrap-around support for job seekers with a mental illness

1st LEAP Partnerships Established

LEAP Partnerships continued…

LEAP Project

• Time frame: September 2009 – June 2012• Funded by Department Education,

Employment and Workplace Relations

Health Optimisation Program for Employment (HOPE)

• A ten-session group-based program for job seekers with mental illness

• Helps participants gain a better understanding of their health, stressors, and effective coping strategies in everyday life and the workplace

• Explores how the participant can work with the supports available to manage their health and achieve their goals

• HOPE is based on an evidence-based program, Collaborative Therapies (developed by Frameworks for Health)

Frameworks for Health

• Frameworks for Health is dedicated to translating “real world” health research into everyday clinical practice through program development, research and implementation.

• Frameworks for Health works with organisations to implement service delivery models of care and stand alone programs based on the Health Optimisation approach.

• Manager - Monica Gilbert (03) 9288 2293 or monica.gilbert2@svhm.org.au

Framework for Service Delivery Entire Service Delivery Model incorporating comprehensive assessment,

treatment pathways and best practice psychosocial programs

•Managing Mental Health and Substance Use

•MAPS: Program for Bipolar Disorder

•Optimal Health Program

•Supporting Self and Others

•Health- Promoting Parenting

Frameworks for Health Programs

•Mental Health Maintenance

•HOPE: Program for Jobseekers with a Mental Illness

Aims of HOPE ProgramAims of HOPE Program

• To provide information and develop strategies for attaining and maintaining optimal health

• To prepare and support job seekers with a mental illness to access, gain and maintain employment

• To facilitate communication between job seekers with a mental illness and support persons

HOPE ProgramHOPE Programsession outlinesession outline

Session Title Content

1 Optimal Health and Work •Perceptions of health and behaviours that influence health• Understanding health at work & recognising personal strengths

2 The “I Can Do” model •Understanding the three components of the “I Can Do’ model : Health Plan I – ‘Daily coping Plan’

3 Sub-optimal Health • Cumulative stress, sub-optimal health, recognising vulnerable situations and early warning signs, collaborative partners, goal setting : Health Plan II – ‘Sub-Optimal Health’

4 Episode of Illness •What does it mean to experience an episode of illness; medication; problem solving : Health Plan III – Action Plan

5 The Worker Experience: Preparing for a job

• Identifying stressors and coping strategies; Healthy Routines• Using Health Plans in ‘preparing for a job’

6 The Worker Experience: Finding and starting a job

• Identifying stressors and coping strategies; problem solving,; managing discrimination and disclosure

7 The Worker Experience: Keeping a job

•Identifying stressors and coping strategies; collaborative partners•Developing ‘HOPE Action Plans’ to manage vulnerable situations and stressors in ‘worker experiences’

8 Review: Putting it all together •Review optimal health and optimal health at work : Review plans•Recognising interests, skills, and strengths; goal setting for work

Booster What is my health like now? •Review HOPE journal : Health and HOPE plans, review work-goals, problem solve vulnerable situations.

Health Optimisation Rationale

• Knowledge of stress and vulnerability and its personal impact gives an individual the motivation and ability to develop and implement coping strategies.

• It also increases individual’s understanding of the effects of stress and the impact it may have on their physical, emotional and psychological wellbeing.

• Through knowledge and understanding, individuals are better able to effectively manage their day-to-day lives, increasing their sense of control as well as creating an opportunity for avenues of choice.

(Gilbert, Ho & Castle, Frameworks for Health)

HOPE Program Structure

• SoFA coordinates the HOPE programs • Representatives from the partnership

become HOPE facilitators by attending training by Frameworks for Health

• A peer educator co-facilitates HOPE• Ongoing support is available for HOPE

facilitators

Evaluation

• General Self Efficacy Scale• 10 item scale• Rate from 1 to 4 “how true the statement has

been for you during the past week”• Ex. “I can always manage to solve difficult

problems if I try hard enough”• Additional 8 items have been included to

assess work-related and health-related self-efficacy

1. Mastery experience

• Goal setting: SMART goals – specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, within a timeframe

• Experience of the program – getting there, participating, gaining a certificate

2. Modeling• Mental Health Peer Educators are involved in all

aspects of project– Advisory Group – Partnership meetings– HOPE program delivery

• Peer Educators act as conduit for communication between HOPE participants and LEAP partnerships

• Peer Educators are supervised, mentored and supported by SoFA

3. Social influence

• Peer support within the group• HOPE encourages connectedness with

supports in the community

4. Physiological Factors

• Understanding experience of stress as a physiological response

• Awareness of triggers and early warning signs that may indicate slipping into “sub-optimal health”

• Using HOPE journal to write down action plans, monitor health, organise appointments, etc.

Contact DetailsCaitlin McDowellLEAP Project CoordinatorSocial Firms AustraliaLoft 10, 49 Smith Street Fitzroy VIC 3065Ph) 9445 0373 M) 0403 616 247 caitlin@socialfirms.org.auwww.socialfirms.org.au