Through the Employment Exchange Cell of Schizophrenia Research Foundation (SCARF), 158 of the 266 enrolled persons with lived experience of mental illness were placed at least once in some job during January to December 2025, and 93 of them sustained employment for over four months.
At a dissemination meeting of the EMPOWER programme on Tuesday, R. Mangala, who heads the cell, elaborated on the key findings and impact of the programme.
Being implemented to support employment for persons with mental illness, the programme bridges the gap between clinical recovery and economic inclusion, provides vocational preparation, job placement and retention support, and works closely with employers to promote inclusive workplaces, she said.
For those who are not ready to take up jobs immediately and require training, the cell provides training, including in soft skills. Of the 52 who were referred for training, 18 have completed it, Dr. Mangala added.
While it has made persons with mental illness more confident and ready to work, SCARF has been able to sensitise more employers to take up their clients for jobs and support repeatedly, she said.
