‘It’s like an opportunity for me to have freedom and to move forward with my life’: Experiences of youth engaging in education and employment after a first episode of psychosis

ABSTRACT

Background

Many youth experiencing first-episode psychosis face more academic and vocational challenges than their peers. Yet few studies have explored the perspectives of youth who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) following psychosis and contrasted these with those of their counterparts engaged in education and/or employment. To address this gap, this study explored personal journeys of (re-)engaging in education and employment after psychosis.

Methods

Using a descriptive qualitative design, grounded in self-determination theory, in-depth interviews were conducted with individuals receiving services at an early intervention program for psychosis. Eight youth who were NEET and six who were working/in education participated.

Results

The analysis produced three themes that were salient to both youth with psychosis who were NEET and those in work/school: relatedness or the importance of belonging and being cared for; perceived competence; and a desire for a sense of autonomy. The themes, aligned with the self-determination theory, showed youths negotiating their decision to (re-)engage in education and employment.

Discussion

Engaging in education and employment seems part of a larger process that draws on significant past experiences and the envisioned future self. Efforts targeting vocational functioning are best situated in understandings of identity, recovery, and psychological needs.

KEYWORDS:

• Employment
• education
• psychosis
• NEET
• youth

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Fonds de Recherche du Québec - Santé .