Structural barriers to implementing individual placement and support in Japanese disability policies and Labor systems

Background: This study aimed to contextualize structural barriers to the implementation of Individual Placement and Support (IPS) in Japan. Analysis: We examined the position of Japan's employment service policies for individuals with mental illness within the OECD framework for IPS implementation and identified key challenges. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining a narrative search of Japanese policy documents with systematic searches of Japanese IPS research. According to the OECD framework, Japan's IPS implementation was positioned between the stages of "Building the foundations for integrated mental health, skills, and work policy" and "Shifting from trials to a scaled-up integrated approach." A major barrier was the absence of a comprehensive vocational service system for individuals with a diagnosis of severe mental illness. Policy Options: Advancing IPS dissemination in Japan requires multifaceted strategies, including grassroots efforts by service providers, strengthened advocacy, incorporation of employer and client perspectives, and consideration of resource allocation across populations with varying levels of needs. Conclusion: While macro-level research on IPS implementation remains scarce in Japan, the practical and feasible policy considerations identified in this study could be beneficial in Japan as well as other non-Western contexts encountering similar implementation challenges.