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<p>Employment plays a vital role in the recovery and social reintegration of persons with mental illness (PwMI). However, in India, stigma, systemic barriers, and employer hesitancy continue to marginalize this population from meaningful workforce participation. This qualitative exploratory study investigates the barriers and strategies involved in employer engagement for inclusive hiring of PwMI, drawing insights from 6 semi-structured interviews with employers and employment specialists (ESs) in Chennai. Thematic analysis revealed three overarching themes: (1) challenges in employer outreach, including stigma, exploitation, and structural inefficiencies; (2) strategies for improving outreach, such as systematic engagement, leveraging trusted referrals, and targeting key decision-makers; and (3) placement-focused approaches like probationary hiring, capacity-building, and policy reform. The findings highlight the significance of trust-building, organizational support, and multi-stakeholder collaboration in promoting inclusive employment. This study contributes practical insights for advancing supported employment frameworks in the Indian context, calling for policy adaptation, systematic outreach mechanisms, and greater involvement of mental health professionals in employer liaison processes.</p>

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Engaging Employers in Inclusive Hiring: Challenges and Strategies for Supported Employment of Persons with Mental Illness in Chennai, India

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年12月2日

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  • Harini Kannan,
  • Lakshmi Rajesh,
  • Disha Eshwar,
  • Abhinav Ajay,
  • Aravind Guru,
  • R Mangala,
  • Vijaya Raghavan

摘要

Employment plays a vital role in the recovery and social reintegration of persons with mental illness (PwMI). However, in India, stigma, systemic barriers, and employer hesitancy continue to marginalize this population from meaningful workforce participation. This qualitative exploratory study investigates the barriers and strategies involved in employer engagement for inclusive hiring of PwMI, drawing insights from 6 semi-structured interviews with employers and employment specialists (ESs) in Chennai. Thematic analysis revealed three overarching themes: (1) challenges in employer outreach, including stigma, exploitation, and structural inefficiencies; (2) strategies for improving outreach, such as systematic engagement, leveraging trusted referrals, and targeting key decision-makers; and (3) placement-focused approaches like probationary hiring, capacity-building, and policy reform. The findings highlight the significance of trust-building, organizational support, and multi-stakeholder collaboration in promoting inclusive employment. This study contributes practical insights for advancing supported employment frameworks in the Indian context, calling for policy adaptation, systematic outreach mechanisms, and greater involvement of mental health professionals in employer liaison processes.