SEMpsych – Health and Work Pilots: Systemic Integration Management for People with Mental Impairments

What were your goals in the project SEMpsych?

With Blaufeuer (SEMpsych), we aimed to design a low-threshold, cross-company, and institution-independent counselling service. These characteristics should ensure that employed individuals reporting psychological stress and associated workplace-related issues could be reached as early as possible.

Our goal was to promote vocational reintegration or job retention for people with mental health issues, prevent the chronification of work-related problems, and ultimately reduce the need for disability pensions. With the help of participation benefits and support services, we also sought to encourage those affected to actively engage with their own occupational situation.

Are there any topics and focal points that have turned out to be particularly important for you in the project when it comes to pursuing these goals? If so, which ones?

Ongoing public outreach proved to be essential for successfully implementing of the project—both for promoting and sustaining the program. It became clear that the option to receive counselling and support from case managers for up to twelve months was very important to participants. Building an extensive network of psychosocial and other support services in each region was another key success factor, enabling participants to receive individualized, need-based assistance. The independence of the service—particularly from employers and institutions—increased participants’ trust and enhanced the credibility of the program.

What were key challenges you faced during the project, what strategies did you use to deal with those challenges?

It was, and still is, a challenge to reach small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Likewise, access to or through general practitioners proved to be very difficult within Blaufeuer (SEMpsych).

What strategies did you use to deal with those challenges?

We tried to test alternative paths to reach and engage potential project partners. These paths included leveraging networks such as chambers of commerce (IHK/HWK) and medical associations. Persistent and consistent follow-up also turned out to be crucial when it came to winning over potential partners.

Based on the insights and experiences gained during the project, what measures do you consider as most important when it comes to fostering the project’s goal? What are your recommendations in this context?

Tailored, individualized support services that are low-threshold, independent, and centrally coordinated by case management on equal footing with those affected are helpful. Professional counselling and guidance throughout the entire reintegration process also proved to be very effective.

What insights gained during the project do you consider as most important?

It became clear that time and, above all, continuous promotion are necessary to establish a new service, build brand recognition, and maintain it. Additional challenges included reaching SMEs and general practitioners, as well as responding flexibly to changing conditions with appropriate measures or alternative solutions. One example of such a change in conditions was the COVID-19 lockdown, which we addressed by offering video-based counselling.

Looking back on the aims and trajectory of the SEMpsych project, where do you see a need for further research and which research questions would you name in this context?

Preliminary evaluation results suggest that while Blaufeuer successfully reaches its intended target group, that group does not represent the full spectrum of educational backgrounds and professional fields. This raises the question of how the service needs to be promoted or adapted to reach these underrepresented groups.

Although the digitalization of the service was not originally planned, it became a necessity during the COVID-19 lockdown to maintain counselling services via video sessions. It turned out that even after the pandemic, some participants preferred the online format. Given how important digitalization proved to be during the project, we believe it is essential to develop a digitalization strategy. This would be particularly valuable if the project is going to b to be rolled-out, for example to rural areas, and to improve access to the target group by leveraging the potential of digital tools.