Improving Employment Outcomes for People with Mental Health Disorders in Washington State

This study explored the relationship between the receipt of supported employment services and outcomes such as employment rates, use of mental health services, arrests, and other indicators of social and health stability among clients receiving publicly funded mental health services in Washington State. The results indicated significant relationships with several important outcomes for clients who received any supported employment services during a three-year intake window from 2006 through 2008. Compared to clients who shared similar baseline characteristics but did not receive the services, clients who received supported employment services experienced significant increases in employment rates and non-crisis community-based outpatient mental health service use, and decreases in total arrest rates. The more supported employment services received in the outcome period, the larger the effect for each of these outcomes.