M. B. Simmons

Aim To describe the implementation and outcomes of a combined individual placement and support (IPS) and vocational peer work program for young people with mental ill‐health. Methods This uncontrolled pilot study co‐located IPS workers and vocational peer workers within two integrated youth mental health services (provided to clients aged 15–25 years old). Employment outcomes included job placements (working 15 hours or more per week in a paid competitive job in the open employment market) and sustained employment (employed for at least 26 weeks). Participants who required additional assistance also received peer work. Results Of the 326 young people enrolled, 195 (59.8%) achieved competitive employment, including 157 (48.2%) in funder‐approved placements. Among those in approved placements, 87 (55.4%) achieved sustained employment. For the 116 participants additionally receiving vocational peer work, 54 (46.6%) worked in funder‐approved placements, of whom 27 (50.0%) achieved sustained employment. Among 210 participants who did not receive peer work, 103 (49.0%) worked in funder‐approved placements, of whom 60 (58.3%) achieved sustained employment. Conclusions The program achieved positive vocational outcomes and good fidelity to the IPS model. Approximately half of young people had employment placements, with a relatively high proportion maintained over time. The similar proportion of placements for those who did and did not receive peer work was encouraging given the IPS team determined that the former group needed additional support. Recommendations include upskilling the workforce, a data linkage system to obtain placement evidence, and using implementation science methodologies to understand how IPS programs are successfully embedded. This demands a coordinated effort between governments and funders, policymakers, services, and professional bodies.

Background: Peer support has become increasingly popular in adult mental health services to complement existing care provided by clinicians with formal training. The same is now happening to support young people with anxiety and depression but it is unclear what the evidence base of peer support in this population is. Methods: A systematic search was conducted with the Orygen Evidence Finder database, Embase, MEDLINE, and PsycINFO from January 1980 to 21 July 2022. Controlled trials of interventions aimed to educate or treat young people (mean age between 14-24) to improve their mental health, which were delivered by a peer worker with lived experienced of mental health challenges were included. Outcomes related to depression or anxiety were extracted. Study quality was rated using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme.