Work and employment for people with psychiatric disabilities

William Faulkner observed that work 'is William Faulkner observed that work 'is just about the only thing that you can do just about the only thing that you can do for eight hours a day'.Work is something for eight hours a day'.Work is something that many of us take for granted, but many that many of us take for granted, but many people with mental illness are excluded from people with mental illness are excluded from work and are unlikely to gain or sustain work and are unlikely to gain or sustain open employment.This is despite the fact open employment.This is despite the fact that the majority of people with mental ill-that the majority of people with mental illness wish to be engaged in meaningful ness wish to be engaged in meaningful activity.Being 'in work' has important activity.Being 'in work' has important implications for the personal well-being, implications for the personal well-being, social status and civil rights of those with social status and civil rights of those with mental illness, as well as for their use of mental illness, as well as for their use of health and social services.Work offers con-health and social services.Work offers considerable personal and economic benefits siderable personal and economic benefits for users of mental health services.for users of mental health services.