[Employment supports: Perceptions of people with severe mental disorders]. / Les soutiens associés au maintien en emploi: perceptions des personnes aux prises avec un trouble mental grave.

Professional rehabilitation of people with severe mental illness is a field of research often left aside. Despite the aspiration of people with severe mental illness to employment, their presence in the job market remains low. Lack of supports appears to be one explanation. Thus, the aim of this study was to identify the types of necessary supports to maintain these people in employment. Six (6) participants have been recruited following a qualitative methodology. Ten types of supports have been identified and classified according to their direct association to work or to the residential or community environment. To conclude, the authors suggest a greater involvement from mental health workers in the identification and development of supports that favour maintaining these people in employment.

[The significance of daily activities in persons with severe mental disorders]. / La signification des activités quotidiennes chez les personnes souffrant de troubles mentaux graves.

Severe mental disorders affect the daily activities and lifestyles of people suffering from these problems. A descriptive study was conducted in order to determine the meaning that people with severe mental disorders give to their daily activities. In this study, the meaning of the activities was defined based on Kielhofner's Human Occupation Model, using three indicators: sense of competence, importance and pleasure. These indicators were measured for each daily activity through a semi-structured interview of 45 people suffering from severe mental disorders, using the Occupational Questionnaire. In general, the activities included in the categories of hygiene and self-care, meals and sleep, scored the highest average for each indicator, i.e. sense of competence, importance and pleasure. Work, however, stands out in terms of the importance it is given as an activity, while social activities are valued through their association with pleasure. An analysis of the results underlines the importance that occupational therapists have an improved understanding of the meaning that people suffering from mental disorders give to their daily activities in order to support their efforts in developing a more positive perception of the way they occupy their time.