As an occupational therapist, I had the opportunity to follow persons with mental health issues and who wanted to work. I noticed that work integration is difficult for them, not because of the person, but because the regular work environment is not adapted to their reality.

 

Then, I started a master about support given by employers, particularly in social enterprise.

 

I, myself, dealt with mental health challenges. I, like my patients, had difficulty, not so much in starting a new job, but I had more difficulty in keeping it.

 

Except at Groupe Innova, an exemplary social enterprise, who accepted my difference.

 

On my professional path, I had the opportunity to meet Sonia, who is not working; Maxence, who is following the PAAS-Action program of the Quebec government; Emmanuel, who works in a mental health organization; and Noémie, who works at the same enterprise as myself.

 

I invite you to reflect and even to live it through the following article.

 

Please note that the first names used in the article are fictitious.

 

 

Not being employed

 

Sonia has never worked. She studied in Pakistan but did not graduate because of mental health problems. Ten years a go, she resumed her studies in Canada, and was unsuccessfull because of menory and comprehension difficulties.

 

Sonia would like to study and work in the future but she asks herselve if it could happen because of her mental health problems.

 

Sonia thinks that there is only God that knows the future and she prays that her future be a reflection of her talent and ambitions.

 

On the contrary, Sonia does not feel that she is free: I think that I am in a cage.

 

 

Because her professional situation remains difficult, Sonia prefers spending her time on hobbies and would like to one day have a child.

 

 

Being registered in the PAAS-Action program of the Quebec government

 

Maxence is registered in a PAAS-Action program of the Quebec government. While doing some tasks, the person receives money for her transportation, and $130 per month, plus welfare. The program last for an indetermined time and has to be renewed each year.

 

Maxence writes for the magazine Mentalité, a magazine of the organization in mental health called l'Échelon. He sometimes find it difficult to write articles and to receive health care, which disturbs his employment trajectory.

 

For Maxence, the PAAS-Action program respects well the rythm of the participants. There are breaks and activities; it is not only work support. Alternatives activities at the organization help for production, improving capabilities and give methodology to the person. There are for example grammar courses, reading assistance, writing activities and poetry.

 

Maxence likes this variety, but he is couscious that the PAAS-Action program is not the type employment that gives the more autonomy nor the more money.

 

Concerning his professional future, Maxence is doubtful. He asks himself if he will find a job in the regular workforce. If he jumps, he wants to be reassured that the job is right for him. He is scared to keep a job for a short time and have a professional burn-out, because its what he went through in the past.

 

He prefers to take things one at a time and does not want to overload himself too much. He prefers to concentrate on his current work.

 

However, he can't help having the dream of creating cartoons, having a talent in drawing and writing.

 

 

Maxence thinks that, in Quebec, if we ask, we receive the services that will help us. In his opinion, the work integration services are good, and don't need any improvement.

 

Maxence says: When you are at a new step, you are proud. But Maxence does not conceptualize work trajectory in a linear way.

 

In our life experience, we spend our time moving backwards. You move back but you also improve. We should not give attention to setbacks. When we go backwards, we always improve.

 

 

Working in a mental health organization

 

Emmanuel has been on welfare for a long time. At 18, he did not have a mental health diagnosis but he was already not doing very well. He was taking drugs. He lived in an appartment for a certain time, up to his psychosis.

 

 

He later lived in a group home called maison l'Échelon. He completed a DEP in infographics and an other DEP in photography, before being a writer for the day center l'Échelon.

 

Later, Emmanuel became editor-in-chief of the magazine Mentalité, a position that entails many responsabilities. He manages the magazine, while continuing to write articles and elaborating the layout.

 

Getting a regular job greatly improved his self-confidence. At the beginning, he was nervous, but after two months, he notices that his integration is good. Because he knows Échelon for a long time, he did not have to adapt to a new work environment.

 

The adaptation mainly consist in an increase in working hours, and an addition of tasks, such as the preperation of workshops et the accomplishment of clerical tasks.

 

« I really like my job. On Friday, I am happy to leave, but on Sunday night, I am excited to see my coworkers. »

 

The host family where he lives helped him to structure himself and to create a scheduale. He does not need to prepare his meals and the host family gives him motivation to do his work. Otherwise, in his own appartment, he spent his time playing video games.

 

Of his job, Emmanuel likes in particular the human aspect and the interaction with the writers. On the other hand, he does not like to call to renew the magazine subscription. In general, the people to whom he talks to, by telephone, do not have mental health problems, which make him nervous.

 

On his professional future, he wishes to stay at the day center l’maison l'Échelon the longest time possible.

 

He agrees entirely with the fact that society should further encourage the inclusion in regular enterprises. The opposite for him is stigma. The revealing or not of the mental health problem is up to each person.

 

According to Emmanuel, the work integration contract (WIC) is a good measure of accommodation. Because the salary is partially subsidized by the government, the employer can offer a rythm that is better for the person.

 

Furthermore, some people choose not to leave the mental health environment. They are afraid of working because they are scared to loose the amount of social welfare corresponding to the severe employment constraints. Emmanuel believes that the Quebec government should encourage the persons having mental health challenges to take calculated risks. In other words, give them a safety net to go further in the workforce.

 

 

Working in a social enterprise

 

Noémie is passionate about her work and she always burned the canddle at both hands. She had depressions and had professional burn-out, which led her to often change jobs. She received help from different mental health organizations, like Arrimage, which is very helpful for her.

 

It's now seven years that she is working in a social enterprise. She had difficulties in her personal life and she had a hard time handdling her emotions. Noémie could count on the unfailing support of her employement counselor at l'Arrimage.

 

Previously, she wanted to stop a few times, having difficulty with autority and sometimes she felt persecuted. But, with the passing of time, she became self-confident in her work. Her bosses listened to her and she feels priviledge.

 

She works two days a week, in addition to receiving a pension from the government.

 

According to Noémie, her employment in the social enterprise constitutes a situation of inclusion. Indeed, there are people with a mental health problem but also people who do not have a mental health diagnosis. However, she does not feel completely included when she feels that what she is saying is not interesting and that she feels excluded from employees who do not have diagnoses.

 

 

On the other hand, Noémie really likes the fact that the social enterprise celebrates employees' birthdays and makes an effort to create a good working atmosphere. She is grateful that her work allows her to meet many different people. It can thus feed on their intellect and their experiences.

 

Nevertheless, she would like to have more time to discuss in depth with her colleagues. In addition, she would like more professional challenges, in particular more variety and responsibility in her tasks.

 

For the future, Noémie wants to continue working within the social enterprise. She might like to add a 3rd or 4th day, but she is afraid to do so because she thinks she could lose her pension.

 

 

Conclusion

 

In short, Maxence, Emmanuel, Noémie and myself found environments that are adapted to our psychic and emotional differences, and also to our big sensitivity.

 

Only Sonia feels limited on the profesional level.

 

These environments are very useful. According to me, there should be more PAAS-Action programs, more mental health organizations, and more social enterprises, mainly in a context of a manpower shortage, and considering the big creative power of the persons with mental illnesses.

 

Not only is it advantageous for quebecers that the government follow the financing of these employment structures, but it would be in the interest of regular enterprises to get inspired from social enterprises.

 

Instead of having the unique mission of profit maximization, why don't the regular enterprises have an economic mission that serves a social mission, such as employment integration of persons that are marginalized ?