In today’s fast-paced world, the connection between employment and mental health is more important than ever. Employment not only offers financial stability but also provides a sense of purpose, social connection, and routine. Individuals who are unemployed are at a higher risk of experiencing chronic mental health issues. This blog delves into the significance of combining employment support with psychological therapy to alleviate severe anxiety and depression in populations receiving welfare benefits.
Research has shown that evidence-based psychological therapies are effective in treating anxiety and depression, with a recovery rate of over 50%. However, unemployed populations, particularly those aged 40+ receiving welfare benefits, have shown lower recovery rates in NHS Talking Therapies services. Previous studies have focused on the benefits of employment support for individuals with severe mental health conditions, but there is limited research on the impact of employment support on clinical outcomes in primary care settings for anxiety and depression.
A recent study by Thew et al. (2024) aimed to evaluate the effect of providing employment support alongside psychological therapy on recovery rates in unemployed adults. Using a case control design, the study found that individuals who received employment support alongside therapy had significantly higher recovery rates compared to those who did not receive additional support. The results suggest that the odds of recovery for this specific population are 2.54 times greater when employment support is provided.
The study highlights the potential benefits of integrating employment support with psychological therapy for vulnerable populations at risk of poor treatment outcomes. However, there are some limitations to the study, including self-selection bias and therapist effects not being measured. Future research should focus on conducting randomized controlled trials and exploring the generalizability of the findings in other geographical areas.
Overall, the findings emphasize the importance of identifying and offering employment support to individuals in need, potentially improving mental health recovery rates. As NHSTT services are implementing employment pathways nationally, it will be interesting to see how this intervention impacts mental health outcomes.
