YESS: A feasibility study of a supported employment program for youths with mental health disorders

OBJECTIVE: In Canada, employment/education support is rarely embedded as a component of mental health service delivery. This study describes a supported education/employment program (SEP) that integrates both clinical and community mental health services. The main objectives were to estimate the feasibility of a 5-week SEP among youths aged 17–24 with mental illness and to estimate the extent to which participation in this program improved employment and mental health outcomes. METHODS: This was a single cohort study. Feasibility outcomes assessed were demand, acceptability, practicality, integration, adaptation, and effectiveness. These were assessed through recruitment and retention rates, recording patterns of missing data, and examining differences between completers and non-completers. Appropriateness of the outcome measures was assessed through the strength of the association between the outcome measures at baseline. Effectiveness of the program was assessed through employment and as measured using MyLifetracker (MLT), Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), and the Canadian Personal Recovery Outcome Measure (CPROM). RESULTS: A total of 110 youths with a mean age of 20.6 (SD: 2.2) were recruited. At 5 weeks, 82 (74.5%) of participants remained in the program. Of the people who completed the program, 56.1% were women, 76.6% were in stable housing and 64.1% had depression. Approximately 60% of non-completers used two or more services and were in at-risk housing. More than 25% of participants improved on the patient-reported outcomes. Scores on these measures were moderately to highly correlated with each other. Employment rates varied and corresponded to the waves of the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada. CONCLUSION: Results showed that this program was feasible and there was high demand for SEP during the COVID-19 pandemic but gaining employment remained difficult. Educational or employment outcomes, measured over a short period, may not be adequate. Instead, individualized and patient-reported outcome measures may be more appropriate for SEP programs.