ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Int. J. Public Health
Individual Placement and Support in Mexico: Barriers and Facilitators
- JC
J. Carlos Arámbula Román 1,2
- EC
Elsy Cárdenas-García 2,1
- SD
Sol Durand-Arias 3
- RS
Ricardo Saracco 3
- JC
Jaime Carmona-Huerta 1,2
- JA
JESUS ALEJANDRO ALDANA LOPEZ 1
- EV
Eveling Villafuerte-Jacob 1
- SB
Shoshana Berenzon 3
- AC
Ana Carolina Florence 4
- BD
Bob Drake 4
- ES
Ezra Susser 5,6
- FM
Franco Mascayano 6,5
1. Instituto Jalisciense de Salud Mental, Guadalajara, Mexico
2. University Center of Health Sciences, University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Mexico
3. Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatria Ramon de la Fuente Muniz, Mexico City, Mexico
4. Columbia University, New York, United States
5. Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, United States
6. New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, United States
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Abstract
Purpose: The Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model has proven effective in different high-income countries. However, its implementation in low-and middle-income countries presents a new challenge. This study identified potential barriers and facilitators for IPS implementation in the metropolitan area of Guadalajara, México, to prepare for a clinical trial. Methods: The study explored potential barriers and facilitators to implementing IPS in the metropolitan area of Guadalajara, Mexico, from the perspectives of 61 diverse stakeholders in mental health interest groups: policymakers, administrators, providers, service users, and potential employers. The study used semi-structured, qualitative interviews and structured questionnaires tailored to each participant group and their specific roles. Results: Major themes of barriers were stigma, limitations in treating people with serious mental illness, difficulties related to users and their support networks, and systems barriers. Potential facilitators included the effectiveness of programs and specific activities, institutional collaboration, patient-centered approach, and characteristics of IPS. Conclusion: The study provided critical information on challenges and potential strategies prior to an upcoming trial of IPS supported employment services in a large, middle-income country.
Summary
Keywords
Individual Placement and Support, barriers, facilitators, Mexico, low- and middle-income countries
Received
09 October 2025
Accepted
28 April 2026
Copyright
© 2026 Arámbula Román, Cárdenas-García, Durand-Arias, Saracco, Carmona-Huerta, ALDANA LOPEZ, Villafuerte-Jacob, Berenzon, Carolina Florence, Drake, Susser and Mascayano. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Sol Durand-Arias
Disclaimer
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.