Young people who experience mental illness are approximately three times more likely to suffer disruption to their education and work life than their peers. Yet they still share the same aspirations as their peers and consistently rate gaining employment as one of highest recovery goals when commencing an episode of care for their mental illness.
To address this, Orygen is undertaking a research project to develop and test a Youth Online Training and Employment System (YOTES) - a web-based employment support package for young people experiencing barriers to obtaining and remaining in work due to mental ill-health.
This project would not be possible without a very generous grant Orygen has received from the Helen Macpherson Smith Trust.
Dr Magenta Simmons, Youth Partnerships in Research Coordinator, and Gina Chinnery, National Vocational Services Manager, will lead the project with colleagues A/Professor Mario Alvarez (Head, E-Health), Professor Eóin Killackey (Head, Functional Recovery), and Professor John Gleeson from the Australian Catholic University.
Find out more about the Helen Macpherson Smith Trust.