Workers' perspectives on self-directing mainstream return to work following acute mental illness: reflections on partnerships.

OBJECTIVE To examine barriers and facilitators influencing self-direction of return to mainstream work following acute mental illness. PARTICIPANTS Five individuals who had attempted return to mainstream work following acute mental illness. METHODS In depth, semi-structured qualitative interviews with the five participants selected through purposive sampling. RESULTS The three main themes related to the workers' self-direction of their return to work experience were (a) worker self-management, (b) workers' 'personal' partnerships and (c) workplace partnerships. CONCLUSION Personal and workplace partnerships are integral to supporting workers as they take ownership of their full potential and self-direct return to mainstream work.