Vocational rehabilitation of the mentally ill - An evaluation of the Vocational Rehabilitation Center in Zurich, Switzerland

Objective: The aim of the Vocational Rehabilitation Center in Zurich (VRC) is to reintegrate mentally ill persons into the primary labour market, main ly by prevocational training followed by continuous professional support fo r employed individuals. The present study evaluated the impact of the VRC. Methods: The job and financial situation of 68 trained persons was assessed up to two years after the training. Additionally, their vocational history and sociodemographic data were analysed. Results: Before the training, onl y 9% had a job, while two years after the course 42% were employed in compe titive jobs. On the other hand, using an ordinal scale, two years after the training, 78% of the patients were found in a better job situation than be fore the course. Likewise, the financial situation of 52% of the clients ha s improved within those two years. The! strongest correlation with success was the intensity of support after the training. Conclusions: The VCR is ef fective in training mentally Ill patients for the primary job market. Conti nuous professional support is vital for ongoing success.