Executive Summary
“There is incredible untapped potential in Ontario’s population. We need to put that potential to work by building supports and eliminating barriers to full participation in our economy and society.”
Breaking the Cycle: Ontario’s Poverty Reduction Strategy, 2008
Employment and education are essential elements of recovery for people with mental illness. Ontario can do a better job helping people with mental health problems to connect with the labour market. We know this because research analysis tells us — and because the experience of other jurisdictions shows us. We also know that labour force participation pays enormous dividends in quality of life and improved health.
There is no single answer, program or initiative that can radically increase employment opportunities for those with mental illness. But the right combination of employment support services, disability income programs, human rights legislation, and education and economic incentives can make an enormous difference. This paper is intended to support these efforts.
Policy-makers are looking for solutions. The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), Ontario and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) are encouraged by the renewed focus on Ontario Disability Support Program reforms, Ontario’s poverty reduction strategy, and the development of a long-term Ontario mental health and addiction strategy. As we embrace a recovery-oriented mental health system, opportunities to strengthen access to education and employment must be pursued.
Ontario has some of the most progressive human and disability rights legislation in the world. Building upon achievements in this area and educating people about their rights is essential. The economic challenges facing the province and internationally will have significant negative repercussions for people who are already marginalized in the workforce and society. Taking action to strengthen the application of rights in the workplace can help mitigate the impact of higher unemployment rates.
In today’s economy, meaningful workforce participation is increasingly determined by education level. Yet many of the most serious mental health problems present themselves first in late adolescence and early adulthood, interrupting programs of study. This is a critical time to intervene, with programs and supports that target young people struggling to complete their studies. There is extensive evidence that these programs help young people with mental illness complete their studies and move into the workforce. These efforts must be better supported.
Evidence-based practices in supported employment programs and ongoing reforms to disability benefit programs must be part of the public policy efforts to support recovery. There are promising practices with impressive records of connecting people with mental illness to the workforce, and of strengthening that connection. Unraveling the different levels of support offered to persons with mental health problems — and addressing disincentives — is a complex task. To accomplish this, we must have increased dialogue and collaboration among levels of government, government departments, the mental health sector, employment service providers, employers, and people with mental illness. Research and development of innovative solutions such as social enterprise, incentives for employers and access to training and education can help fill gaps in the knowledge base.
International jurisdictions are far ahead of Ontario in many aspects of workforce participation for people with mental health problems and other disabilities, but there are significant improvements taking place to build upon. CAMH and CMHA Ontario welcome the opportunity to work collaboratively with all stakeholders, and most importantly people with mental illness, to build a program for change.
Read the complete CAMH-CMHA Ontario Employment Discussion Paper.