An independent evaluation of the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) trials in headspace centres has strengthened the evidence base for IPS in youth mental health settings. The IPS trial, which started in 2016, aimed to assess whether the IPS model (typically delivered to adults with more serious mental ill-health) could be suitable and effective for young people up to the age of 25 years who have more moderate or mild mental health issues.
The trials were announced following a comprehensive report led by Orygen’s head of functional recovery research Professor Eoin Killackey and national vocational services manager Gina Chinnery. The report, Tell them they’re dreaming: work, education and young people with mental illness in Australia:
- Presented strong evidence for the Individual Placement Support (IPS) employment services model, shown to be an effective, and cost effective, way to increase workforce participation among young people experiencing mental ill-health and divert them from the Disability Support Pension.
- Recommended the Australian Government fund high-fidelity IPS employment and education services for young people, provided through headspace centres.
The independent evaluation, released today, has made a further contribution to the strong evidence base for IPS in youth mental health settings. It found:
- 43 per cent of participants achieved an employment or education outcome;
- the integration of clinical mental health services and vocational services was considered to improve young people’s wellbeing as well as vocational outcomes; and that
- headspace was a highly appropriate setting for IPS, facilitating engagement with young people and providing a supportive setting to co-locate vocational specialists with clinical teams.
The Australian Government had previously announced an extension of the trials along with 10 new sites in January 2019. One of the new trial sites is at Orygen’s Sunshine headspace centre.
Read the evaluation.
Read Tell them they’re dreaming.