How would you like to be helped? A concept mapping study of potential factors promoting integrated approaches for people with mental-health problems to find gainful employment

PLoS One. 2026 Oct 6;21(10):e0357885. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0357885. eCollection 2026.

ABSTRACT

For enabling people with mental-health problems to find work, an integrated approach is needed. It would combine mental-health services with social services for securing income and social benefits. This study used concept mapping, a mixed-method participatory research methodology that combines qualitative and quantitative techniques to identify factors that would promote such an approach. The participants included (a) experts with lived experience in mental-health problems, (b) client organizations, employers, and the General Employers’ Association Netherlands (AWVN), as well as municipal return-to-work professionals, mental healthcare providers, and the Netherlands Employees Insurance Agency (UWV). Together, they collaborate to guide, support, and facilitate people’s reintegration into the workforce. Participants were recruited between May and September 2018. In Phase One, 63 participants brainstormed how to improve collaboration between the different parties in finding and retaining employment for people with a mental illness. In Phase Two, participants sorted the statements from Phase One into categories based on thematic similarity, and they rated them on priority. Multidimensional scaling and cluster analysis were performed to produce multidimensional maps to visualize the findings. In the brainstorming phase, participants generated 143 statements which were reduced to 60 statements to be included in Phase Two. In the sorting task, six clusters were created as follows: Provide time and space for collaboration, collaborate, provide a safe landing for employees, focus on common goals, facilitate and connect craftsmanship, and address the impact of work on health and recovery. Because experts with lived experience and employers were underrepresented in the development of the concept map, two additional focus groups were organized to verify the results of the concept map. One group included experts with lived experience, and the other one included employers. The results of these focus groups confirmed those of the group concept mapping. Ways to improve an integrated approach are discussed. We distinguished six clusters of potential factors that might foster an integrated approach: “Provide time and space for collaboration”, “collaborate”, “provide a smooth transition for employees”, “focus on common goals”, “facilitate and connect craftsmanship” and “pay attention to the impact of work on health and recovery”.

PMID:42837337 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0357885