Source: The Wellington (New Zealand) Dominion Post [RUTH HILL]

WorkFirst occupational therapist Nikki Porteous is passionate about her job - and in the worst recession seen in New Zealand since the 1930s, it has never been more important.

Since she started work with the Early Intervention Service seven years ago, WorkFirst has helped with job placements for nearly 600 clients aged 18 to 35 - all receiving treatment and rehabilitation for mostly serious mental illnesses, such as psychosis, schizophrenia and depression.

Nearly half found jobs and 65 per cent are in work or study.

While New Zealand data on the employment status of people with mental illness is hard to come by, overseas studies suggest about 90 per cent of people with schizophrenia or other serious mental illnesses are unemployed.

"Finding and keeping a job can be a critical part of someone's recovery," Ms Porteous says.

"Unemployment itself has an impact on mental health. People who are long-term unemployed often end up on sickness benefits."

She credits WorkFirst's high success rates to the fact employment advisers work alongside the rest of the mental health team.

"We're an integrated part of the treatment service, which is a recognition of the importance of work to mental wellbeing."

As well as supporting clients to keep their jobs and return to work and study, the service helps employers and employees to make "reasonable accommodations".

Younger jobseekers prefer entry-level and semi-skilled positions initially. Some are university graduates, with good careers and solid work histories. About a third are studying.

However, the programme - jointly funded by the Social Development Ministry and Capital and Coast - now faces cuts.

The ministry has axed funding from October, and three of the six employment advisers based at five community mental health teams are in line to lose their jobs.

Ms Porteous says while the immediate future is uncertain for WorkFirst, she is confident it has "proved its worth" and the service will survive long term.

Mental-health workers and consumers warn that vulnerable young people recovering from mental illness will be at greater risk of relapse as they struggle to find jobs without support.

Melbourne University researcher Eoin Killackey, in Wellington for the Early Intervention in Psychosis Training Forum, said the pilot programme at Capital and Coast was a world leader.

A trial of a similar service in Melbourne in 2005 found 85 per cent of those who received on-site vocational assistance had jobs six months on, compared with less than 10 per cent in the control group. Early intervention with vocational support could save "billions" in health and benefit costs, he said.

Ad Feedback People with mental health problems were among the last to benefit from economic good times - and the first to suffer in a downturn. "It's easier to persuade an employer to take on a young person than someone in their 30s with no work history."

Work and Income deputy chief executive Patricia Reade says a final decision has not been made on the future of WorkFirst, which has received Social Development funding since 2004.

After an annual review in June, the service was given an additional three months' funding. "This gives us time to continue talking with them to explore options for the future."

However, with growing dole queues, the ministry was "targeting spending on services aimed at getting people into full- time work".

Specialty mental health services manager John Zonnevylle says Capital and Coast will struggle to provide the service without ministry funding. "In the short term we will be working to encourage the ministry to continue its support for WorkFirst, or a similar project targeting the same group of clients."

Meanwhile, Capital and Coast was considering what resources could be "redirected" to keep the service going. "But we also need to ensure core mental health services are delivered."

Richmond Fellowship chief executive Kath Fox says she expects the economic slump will lead to greater demand for mental health services. "It's important to ensure that an already vulnerable group is not disproportionately affected by the impacts of recession."

SUPPORT AT WORK A LIFESAVER

Developing a major psychotic  illness could have been the end  of a promising career for one  young Wellington man.

One year into his first job after graduating from university, he became seriously ill and was admitted to Wellington Hospital's acute psychiatric in-patient unit. He was off work for three months.

But as well as treating his illness, the team at Capital and Coast's Early Intervention Service gave him the support he needed to go back to work.

"My employer was very understanding, really flexible about sick leave, letting me come back part-time.

"Having that goal of getting back to work was key to my recovery.

"I never felt my job was at risk because I had a mental illness."

By liaising with his employer and devising practical ways to manage his symptoms in the workplace, his WorkFirst employment adviser played a vital role in getting him back to work.

Not all his workmates know about his health problems, but those he has told have been "very supportive".

At least one of his managers had experienced mental illness in the past.

"There have been some challenges in managing stress and distraction from my symptoms in a large, open- plan office.

"It was the WorkFirst adviser who came up with ways to manage that, like wearing an iPod and taking regular breaks to stop me getting stressed out."

Two years on, the 25-year-old is working four days a week.

His job has been a vital part of his recovery. "Work is a big part of life after all."