Lesley Smith, SRN Network Officer, takes a closer look at the issues surround mental health, peer support and employability, including some current initiatives in Scotland.
 At its most fundamental, Peer Support is about people who share similar experiences supporting each other. When people who experience mental health problems talk about what has been helpful in their recovery, peer support is a major factor.
For many people who experience mental health problems, employment can be a big issue. This is for many reasons, including:
- Stigma and discrimination
- Loss of self esteem and confidence
- Loss of employment
- Difficulties in gaining employment
- Explaining gaps in employment history
- Education disrupted
Mental health and employment is a hot topic just now. The introduction of benefit reforms has prompted a fear by many of being forced into work that may impact negatively on their mental health.
By ‘employability’ we mean getting into work, sustaining employment, volunteering and education. One group in Glasgow is listening to what people with mental health problems say they need in relation to employability and working in partnership to look for solutions.
The Glasgow Employability Peer Support Development Group is a network whose members include:
- People with personal experience of mental health problems and of looking for opportunities around work or learning.
- Staff who work in employability services or projects.
- Staff from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and Glasgow City Social Work department.
Solutions involve gaining confidence and having access to information so that people are aware of their options. This in turn enables people to make choices and gain the support they need.
“...while people with mental health problems have the highest levels of unemployment among any disabled group, they also have the highest ‘I want to work’ rate,” says Sylvia Collumb, Group member and Programme Manager (Mental Health and Employability) at NHSGGC.
The Group’s latest development saw the launch of a free DVD, ‘Mental Health and Employment’. It’s backed by Nicola Sturgeon, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, who notes:
“For many people returning to work can be one of the best ways to help their recovery, providing the right help and support are in place for them. This DVD is an important addition to that help. By making this kind of information accessible to those who need it more people can be helped to achieve their goals, whether they are currently in work, thinking about getting a job or returning to work following an absence.”
The DVD can best be described as a toolbox which people can dip into for help, advice and guidance as they recover and consider their options in relation to employability and support. Personal stories are central, and you can learn of people’s experiences of how they successfully planned and sustained themselves in work with the support that they needed.
Another issue covered is whether to consider your experience of mental health problems as a disability and whether or not to disclose this information to your employer. People have rights under the Disability Discrimination Act, but many are hesitant of being open with their employer as they fear discrimination. In the DVD people discuss their experiences, provide information and ultimately leave the decision for individuals to make for themselves. Employers and employment support agencies also contribute, to discuss what support they can offer and the positive contribution that people can make in the workplace.
Margaret Park, Chairwoman of the Peer Support Development Group, spoke of her own experience at the DVD launch. She highlighted the need to move away from a focus on what people cannot do to look at their strengths and skills.
Margaret encouraged those who live in Glasgow and are interested in joining the group to get in touch and contribute to the future support and employment of people who experience mental health problem.
Another development by the Group is a model for peer support and employability, as outlined in “Mutual support and inspiration”. The aim was to develop a model for peer support in employability that would enable people in Glasgow to promote partnership in practice. The model demonstrates the added value and benefits of peer support and service user led activities. Although the project is based in Glasgow, the learning gained is useful for the whole sector across Scotland.
Cutting the Dash was a research project also based on the Group’s work. This informative and useful report highlights that although many people who experience mental health problems want to work there are barriers that need to be challenged and overcome.
Another agency exploring the issues surrounding mental health problems and employability is VOX, the national service user organisation. “It’s better FELT than TELT” sets out guidance on the role of peer support and community development in relation to employability for those with experience of mental health problems.
It’s the result of a research project carried out by VOX members, the Scottish Development Centre for Mental Health, the Mental Health Partnership, NHSGGC, Light on the Path, the Scottish Centre for Healthy Working Lives, and the Scottish Governments’ Employability Delivery Team which consisted of gathering evidence through questionnaires and focus groups to find out what makes peer support and community development approaches helpful to those who have mental health problems.
Their findings are similar to those of the Peer Support Development Group. For example, they found one of the barriers to employment for almost 50% of people surveyed were concerns over stigma and lack of support they might face in the working environment. As the report notes: “overcoming lost self confidence and negative work experiences were the main difficulties faced by respondents.”
The VOX guidelines are an informative resource for anyone involved in using, providing or commissioning employability and support services with a view to the role of informal peer support. Employability is, despite the media portrayal, important to those who experience mental health problems. By hearing from people directly as to what they find helpful or not, all stakeholders can work together to develop the resources and support that people need and want, and peer support is a part of that.
At the moment SRN are supporting the development of the Peer Support Worker roles in Scotland where people with personal experience of mental health problems are trained and employed to support others. Employability would also be a vital area to value this personal experience and put our beliefs into practice through not only creating opportunities for people to support each other but to also employ Peer Support Workers.
To obtain copies of the Glasgow Employability Peer Support Development Group DVD ‘Mental Health and Employment’ contact Margaret Park at
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SRN advertise a range of events and resources developed by external organisations. In doing so we do not necessarily endorse or recommend them and we are in no way responsible for content or quality.
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