Meaning of the use of type-B continuous employment support facilities for individuals with mental disabilities and difficulties in transitioning to employment.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to clarify the meaning of the use of type-B continuous employment support facilities by individuals with mental disabilities and to examine the factors that make their transition to general employment difficult based on previous studies. This study sought to obtain insight into the role of nurses in employment-related disability welfare services.

Materials and methods: A literature search was conducted using the web version of the Igaku Chuo Zasshi (Index Medicus of Japan) and Medical Online search system. Sentences describing the meaning of Type B continuous employment support facilities were extracted, and the resulting data were collected and categorized. Factors that made the transition to regular employment difficult were summarized descriptively based on the extracted data.

Results: The use of type-B continuous employment support facilities by those with mental disabilities meant the following: [awareness as a member of society], [increased sense of self-efficacy], [attempts to stabilize psychiatric symptoms], and [independence in daily living]. The following factors complicated the transition of individuals with mental disabilities to regular employment: they found illness management challenging because of their psychiatric symptoms, which caused difficulties in continuing to work. They also perceived their workplace environment negatively, complaining that their coworkers did not understand their psychiatric symptoms.

Conclusions: Individuals with mental disabilities found meaning in utilizing B-type continuous employment support facilities beyond simply aiming for a transition to general employment. However, numerous factors complicate the transition to full employment. One is that individuals with mental disabilities find it challenging to manage their psychiatric symptoms. Hence, our findings suggest an increasing need for collaboration with nursing professionals and for providing high-level nursing care.