Since 2001, the Johnson & Johnson—Dartmouth Community Mental Health Program has touched more than 30,000 lives in 13 states, using a “supported employment” model to help people like Sally find jobs consistent with their interests and experiences. Their success at work helps reduce stigma and change the mindset of employers, who might hesitate to hire people with mental illnesses.
Helping persons with schizophrenia stay well
Studies have found that the challenges in helping hospitalized persons with schizophrenia recover are a result of limited insight into the illness, resistance to medication, a high relapse rate and discontinuance of care after release from a care setting. A program in Belgium, Puente, hopes to prevent relapse while helping persons with schizophrenia make the transition back into society.
Puente provides persons with schizophrenia with the resources to live an independent life. It fosters a close, caring relationship between persons with schizophrenia and caregivers that includes shared decision-making, motivation to continue treatment, emotional support and access to long-acting antipsychotic medications. In the words of a person with schizophrenia, Puente is “a companion in my journey through life.”
Johnson & Johnson works with the nonprofit organization Rémissie on this program to offer health services tailored to individual persons with schizophrenia needs. Puente has helped more than 700 persons with schizophrenia since 2006 and is active with 41 hospitals across Belgium, enrolling an average of one patient each day.