Key Themes

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Research and learning

There is a wealth of research and evidence based around the links between mental health and employability. Here you will find some of the key documents in this area. If there is a document you would like to share here, please use the 'Contact Us' link at the top of the page.

  • Being Out of Work Seriously Damages Peoples Health - Leaflet (2008) This Scottish Government leaflet is designed to provide information and contacts for people who have experienced mental health problems and want to work.
  • Building the Case for Wellness (2008) The objective of this Health, Work and Wellbeing report is first to consider the wider business case for workplace wellness programmes and then specifically the economic case for UK employers.
  • Choice, Control and Recovery: A guide to Self-directed Support (2009) This booklet is for people who experience mental-health problems and who are interested in getting access to self-directed support in Scotland. Self-directed support is designed to help people to manage their own social-care support and choose the services that suit them best. The booklet will give you some information and allow you to make an informed decision about whether to get self-directed support. It will also explain how self-directed support
    can help you to manage your mental health.
  • I Want to Work But... - Leaflet (2008) This Scottish Government leaflet is designed to provide information and contacts for people who have experienced mental health problems and want to work.
  • It Pays to Look After Your Workforce - Leaflet (2008) This Scottish Government leaflet contains key information on promoting wellbeing at work.
  • Mental Health and Employment Research Report (DWP) (2008) This report presents findings of a qualitative research project commissioned by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to investigate the relationship between mental health and employment. The research was conducted by the Social Policy
    Research Unit at the University of York and the Institute for Employment Studies, during 2007.
  • Mental Health and Social Inclusion (2004) This Social Exclusion Unit Report report from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister features case studies of many successful local projects and the experiences of individuals who have overcome the challenges posed by mental health problems to lead fulfilling lives. These examples demonstrate what can be achieved and the benefits that result for individuals and society.
  • Sainsbury Centre - Doing What Works - Individual Placement and Support into Employment Briefing (2009) This briefing paper describes the key principles of IPS, presents an overview of the research evidence and provides information on further reading.
  • Scottish Recovery Network - Raising Expectations and Sharing Ideas for Mental Health Recovery This booklet is intended to introduce the Scottish Recovery Network. It includes detail on how the Network was developed, what it is trying to achieve and outlines some of the larger projects that the network have been involved in.
  • Supported Employment and Mental Health - SDC Briefing Paper (2008) This Scottish Development Centre for Mental Health paper will be of interest to planners, commissioners, service providers and individuals with an interest in supporting people with mental health problems into sustainable employment.
  • Towards a Mentally Flourishing Scotland (2009) The Scottish Governments Mental Health Policy and Action Plan.
  • Realising Ambitions: Better employment support for people with a mental health condition independent review led by Rachel Perkins. It examines how we can strengthen employment, health and wider state support to help people with mental conditions on out of work benefits. Work, Recovery and Inclusion forms part of the Government's response to this review.
  • 100 ways to support recovery is a guide for mental health staff which aims to support the development of a focus on recovery within Rethink's services.  It provdies different ideas for working with service users in a recovery orientated fashion.