The following are examples of strategies and resources that may help individuals increase their environmental awareness: 

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Enrolling in local vocational services  

Services designed especially for individuals living with serious mental health conditions, such as Individual Placement & Support, are ideal, but if those are not available, individuals could seek services through their state vocational rehabilitation commission. It may not be enough to simply point an individual in the right direction. Instead, counselors or family members could accompany the individual to visit programs and become acquainted with the setting and staff. 

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Benefits education and counseling 

Individuals can meet with a qualified benefits counselor [link] to learn about social security work incentives and how future employment may impact their benefits. 

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Identifying accommodations  

Individuals may be prepared to identify certain reasonable accommodations that would support their success in the workplace. If they have not already, individuals can also learn about legal protections that apply to individuals with serious mental health conditions This includes issues related to disability disclosure, accommodations, and Family and Medical Leave Act.  

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Name systemic dynamics  

Individuals with multicultural identities may also benefit from opportunities to speak with someone, such as a therapist, about their social location as someone living with a mental health condition and also one or more diverse identities. Systemic dynamics that drive vocational barriers for individuals with mental health conditions can interact with those driving barriers for diverse individuals. This phenomenon is sometimes referred to as joint employment disparities or multiple marginalization. This topic may resonate for some diverse individuals while others may not find it applicable or relevant.  

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Researching Labor Market Information (LMI) 

If they have computer and internet access, individuals can use free online resources such as O*NET [link] to compare different vocational options.