EVIDENCE-BASED SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT AND EDUCATION FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH PSYCHIATRIC DISABILITIES

Employment and education are critical social determinants of mental health, and expanding access to effective supported programs can profoundly impact the recovery and well-being of individuals with psychiatric disabilities. This special issue aims to explore the policy, system, and health service factors influencing the implementation and dissemination of evidence-based practices in supported employment and education. We are particularly interested in contributions that examine how policy and structural factors either promote or hinder the successful scale-up of these interventions across different settings. We welcome contributions that address pressing challenges including:
• Funding mechanisms
• Integration of vocational and health services
• Reaching underserved populations
• Overcoming barriers in diverse contexts
• Adapting interventions to new groups and settings

Further information
This is a joint special issue of PHR and IJPH. For IJPH we invite original articles and high quality Reviews (all types). For PHR, we invite Policy Briefs. The call for papers is open until May 31, 2026.

IJPH and PHR publish Gold Open Access. Article processing charges (APCs) apply. Contributions from researchers and practitioners working in both high-income and low- and middle-income countries are encouraged. The IJPH’s GLOBEQUITY program offers a limited number of APC waivers for first authors from low- and middle-income countries.

IJPH and PHR double-blind peer-review and author guidelines apply. Submitted manuscripts must fully comply with journal rules for article type, length and format (please consult the information for authors on the IJPH or PHR website).

You may submit an abstract in the first instance. In case of acceptance after peer review, articles will be published in the online special issue approximately 3 weeks after acceptance.

Keywords: Supported Employment, Supported Education, Psychiatric Disabilities, Competitive Employment , Vocational Rehabilitation , Evidence-Based Practice, Implementation Science, Service Integration, Underserved Populations, Program Adaptation 

Contact:
IJPH Editorial Office: ijph@swisstph.ch
PHR Editorial Office: phr@swisstph.ch

Article types and fees

This Special Issue accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Special Issue description:

• Commentary
• Editorial
• Guidance
• Hints and Kinks
• Letter to the Editor
• Mini Review
• Original Article
• Policy Brief
• Review
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Special Issue accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Special Issue description:

• Commentary
• Editorial
• Guidance
• Hints and Kinks
• Letter to the Editor
• Mini Review
• Original Article
• Policy Brief
• Review
• Society Statement
• Systematic Review
• Theory & Concept
• Young Researcher Editorial

Keywords: Supported Employment, Supported Education, Psychiatric Disabilities, Competitive Employment, Vocational Rehabilitation, Evidence-Based Practice, Implementation Science, Service Integration, Underserved Populations, Program Adaptation