[Vocational rehabilitation for psychologically handicapped patients: the Mannheim "starting help." On the creation of rehabilitative resources in industry].

A programme for rehabilitation of severely mentally impaired patients (mainly psychotic disorders) in local companies, industrial and municipal, is presented. Introduced in 1970 and extended since 1983, the programme is based on a theoretical model for social work practice, that centers around the concept of resources and interaction. Preliminary experiences with this on-the-job vocational rehabilitation approach are reported.