Supported Employment and Social Inclusion: Recognizing the contributions of Peter Huxley

Employment is a critical element in strategies promoting the social inclusion and recovery of people with mental health conditions. Employment is not only a determinant of health and well-being but also a powerful way to counteract stigma and social exclusion. Starting in the 1990s, visionary mental health leaders such as Peter Huxley recognized the importance of effective interventions to help people successfully work in open employment. Initially developed and researched in the 1990s, Individual Placement and Support (IPS) is now recognized as an evidence-based practice and the standardized model of supported employment for people with serious mental illness. This essay briefly summarizes the evidence regarding the effectiveness of IPS and describes its geographic expansion to over 20 countries worldwide and to new populations beyond people with mental health conditions.