Supported employment behind the Netherland's dikes: Trends in vocational rehabilitation for persons with psychiatric disabilities

Successful implementation of supported employment in the Netherlands will only be obtained if this vocational integration strategy is tailored to the cultural context of the Dutch society. This paper will describe the implementation of supported employment in the Netherlands by identifying features of the labor market, as well as present some of the author's views on the cultural differences between the United States and the Netherlands. In addition, the Dutch mental health system and services for individuals with psychiatric disabilities will be discussed. Finally, efforts to include individuals with psychiatric disabilities in the Rotterdam labor market through supported employment will be presented.