LIVING WITH CHRONIC MENTAL-ILLNESS - UNDERSTANDING THE ROLE OF WORK

This paper is based upon an exploratory study designed to examine the role of work within the lives of those with severe, persistent mental illness (SPMI). Indepth, open ended interviews were conducted with a s mall number of consumers (n = 10) who attend a clubhouse for those wit h SPMI where emphasis is placed upon preparation for work. Given that little is known about how work impinges upon or enriches the lives of consumers we asked consumers about their experience of mental illness and work throughout their life trajectories. This paper describes thes e work experiences, the effect of mental illness and treatment complia nce upon their ability to work, and the relationship of work to stress . We found that in general some kind of meaningful activity was import ant to these consumers, but many had found work experiences to be stre ssful and were cautious about their subsequent abilities to sustain me aningful employment. We suggest that subsequent research needs to exam ine the nature of the work environment, and that work environments may be usefully distinguished in terms of level of expressed emotion.