Barriers to and Facilitators of Vocational Development for Black Young Adults With Serious Mental Illnesses

• Published in: Psychiatric rehabilitation journal 2022-03, Vol.45 (1), p.1-10
• Main Authors: Delman, Jonathan, Adams, Leslie B.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult development; Barriers; Black People; College faculty; College Students; Critical race theory; Educational Status; Employment; Employment - psychology; Female; Human; Humans; Job training; Male; Mental disorders; Mental Disorders - rehabilitation; Mental Health; Occupational Guidance; Personnel Training; Preferences; Qualitative Research; Racial differences; Racial discrimination; Racial Disparities; Racial inequality; Rehabilitation; Rehabilitation, Vocational - psychology; Serious Mental Illness; Social Ecology; Vocational education; Young Adult; Young adults
• ISSN: 1095-158X; 1559-3126
• DOI: 10.1037/prj0000505

Objective: Black young adults with serious mental illnesses (SMI) have low rates of employment and school completion. Racial disparities exist in the delivery of vocational services, with Black people less likely to be screened in, and if screened in less likely to receive job training. This qualitative exploratory study examined how Black young adults with SMI perceive the barriers and facilitators to achieving their vocational goals. Method: Our conceptual model for this study is the Social-Ecological Model (SEM), which contains four domains of analysis (intrapersonal, interpersonal, community, and societal), informed by Critical Race Theory (CRT). We completed semistructured, qualitative interviews with 28 Black young adults with SMI. We analyzed data using qualitative content and inductive analyses. Results: Numerous respondents were experiencing racial discrimination in their vocational pursuits and their lives overall, and expressed doubts about achieving vocational success in racially imbalanced environments. Facilitating their vocational growth was trusting relationships with nonjudgmental and understanding vocational counselors (VC) who provided supports reflecting client preferences. As college students, respondents benefited from the presence and accessibility of Black faculty and students. As employees, they valued workplace supervisors who provided direct support and feedback. Conclusions and Implications for Practice: Black young adults with SMI face high and racialized barriers to pursuing work and education at multiple socioecological levels. The field of psychiatric rehabilitation should prepare VCs to understand and address the needs and expressed preferences of Black young adults with SMI. Also called for is research, centered on and directed by Black communities, on the effectiveness of race-conscious vocational practices. Impact and Implications Black young adults with mental illnesses face high and racialized barriers to pursuing work and education, including vocational services that inadequately meet their needs and a criminal justice system that can derail job and career pursuits. Vocational counselors and programs should understand and act on the needs and preferences of this population. Future research on the effectiveness of race-conscious vocational practices should be centered on and led by Black communities.