The fact is that 60 to 70 percent of those with co-occuring illness want to work yet only 15 percent of those individuals are currently employed.
The good news is that when people who participate in IPS supported employment programs are almost three times more likely to gain employment than other types of employment strategies.
It is a myth to say that work is too stressful for individuals with co-occuring illness. We know that work improves self-esteem, adds a sense of purpose, and contributes towards recovery in positive ways for many people with dual disorders.
It is a myth to say that individuals with co-occuring illness will do poorly and are prone to relapse. It is known that when individuals are given opportunities for competitive employment with the right supports that they thrive. They become more intentional in their own wellness and relapse is not so much the outcome of work but is due more to unemployment, housing instability, and loss of social supports.
Employment was for me the consummation of my recovery journey. Employment is vital towards one's wellness, one's feelings of empowerment, one's sense of contribution and is what will truly help that individual reconnect with themselves, others and their sense of meaning and purpose in life.
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