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UNC School of Medicine | Department of Psychiatry

Individual Placement and Support (IPS)

image of a flock of birds near a pier in Ocean Isle Beach, NC
Josh Hammond/ Ocean Isle Beach, NC
The unemployment rate for adults with serious mental illness (SMI) is 85%,¹ whereas 60–70% report wanting to work.² The Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model is a nationally recognized evidence-based practice (EBP) designed to assist individuals with SMI in obtaining and keeping competitive employment. Helping people return to work results in system-level cost savings and is associated with improved recovery outcomes.³ An IPS Team is staffed with professionals who work closely with behavioral health providers, employers, and local Employment and Independence for People with Disabilities (EIPD) staff to assist individuals in finding a job or career that fits their values, preferences, and skills. Following an “Employment First” model, the focus is on rapid job search for competitive employment, meaning positions paying at least minimum wage and open to anyone to apply.⁴ To help identify a good job match, IPS staff take the time to get to know the individual, partly through completing a Career Profile and by going into the community to build relationships with local employers through job development.  Once successfully employed, IPS staff provide ongoing support to the individual in coordination with the mental health team and EIPD. The level of IPS support provided to the employer is determined by the individual, who explores options around disclosure about their mental illness. IPS staff are also trained to assist individuals in self-employment endeavors and pursuing further education. 
  1. <20% employed: (Lindamer et al., 2003; Pandiani & Leno, 2012; Perkins & Rinaldi, 2002; Rosenheck et al., 2006; Salkever et al., 2007) ↩︎
  2. 60% have interest in employment: (Bedell et al., 1998; Drebing et al., 2004; Frounfelker et al., 2011; Knaeps et al., 2015; Livermore & Bardos, 2017; McQuilken et al., 2003; Mueser et al., 2001; Ramsay et al., 2011; Rogers et al., 1991; Westcott et al., 2015; Woltmann, 2009). ↩︎
  3. Drake, 2020; Gibbons, 2019; Luciano, 2014; Wallstroem, 2021​ ↩︎
  4. https://www.dol.gov/agencies/odep/initiatives/employment-first ↩︎