Mirsepassi Zahra, Tabatabaee Maryam, Panahi Mansoureh, Chehrenegar Shahrzad, Sharifi Vandad, Shekari Pardis, Pashaei Ghelichi Elnaz, Tadbiri Nooshabadi Zohreh, Rasoulian Maryam
Department of Psychiatry, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
, Tehran, Iran.
Discov Ment Health. 2025 Apr 28;5(1):62. doi: 10.1007/s44192-025-00174-w.
Individuals with severe mental illness (SMI) often face challenges in obtaining and maintaining employment, resulting in low occupational rates. The Individual Placement and Support (IPS) program has been proven effective in promoting employment for people with SMI. However, its implementation in low-resource settings is limited. This study aims to share the experience of developing and implementing IPS in Iran and to discuss the challenges encountered.
An interdisciplinary team was formed, including academic members and experts in providing occupational services. Employment specialists were trained through workshops and supervision sessions. Stakeholders, including hospital administrators and psychiatrists, were engaged to promote the adoption of IPS. The study included individuals with SMI who accepted the invitation to participate. The IPS fidelity scale was utilized to assess the quality of the service.
During the 36-month study period, 40 clients were referred, with a majority being male and having a diploma or university degree. The IPS fidelity scale scores were 74 at 6 months and 96 at 12 months. However, a significant dropout rate was observed, with the majority occurring during the first and third steps of the IPS process.
The implementation of IPS in Iran faced challenges, including limited resources and high dropout rates. Despite these challenges, the study demonstrates the feasibility of developing and implementing IPS in a low-resource setting. Efforts to secure funding and engage stakeholders were crucial for the sustainability of the service. This study highlights the need for comprehensive, evidence-based occupational programs for individuals with SMI in Iran and similar settings. Further research and interventions are warranted to address the identified challenges and improve employment outcomes for individuals with SMI.
重度精神疾病（SMI）患者在获得和维持就业方面常常面临挑战，导致职业参与率较低。个人安置与支持（IPS）项目已被证明对促进SMI患者就业有效。然而，其在资源匮乏地区的实施受到限制。本研究旨在分享在伊朗开展和实施IPS的经验，并讨论遇到的挑战。
组建了一个跨学科团队，包括学术成员和提供职业服务的专家。通过研讨会和督导课程对就业专家进行培训。让包括医院管理人员和精神科医生在内的利益相关者参与进来，以推动IPS的采用。该研究纳入了接受邀请参与的SMI患者。使用IPS保真度量表来评估服务质量。
在为期36个月的研究期间，共转介了40名客户，其中大多数为男性，拥有文凭或大学学历。IPS保真度量表得分在6个月时为74分，在12个月时为96分。然而，观察到显著的退出率，大多数退出发生在IPS流程的第一步和第三步。
IPS在伊朗的实施面临挑战，包括资源有限和退出率高。尽管存在这些挑战，但该研究证明了在资源匮乏地区开展和实施IPS的可行性。确保资金和让利益相关者参与的努力对于服务的可持续性至关重要。本研究强调了在伊朗和类似环境中为SMI患者制定全面、基于证据的职业项目的必要性。有必要进行进一步的研究和干预，以应对已识别的挑战并改善SMI患者的就业结果。
