The free and voluntary programme, called IPS Together, will be delivered by employability charity Shaw Trust and commissioned by NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight.
It will launch on Tuesday, July 1 and will cover parts of Hampshire, including Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight.
The service is aimed at helping individuals with mental health challenges find and stay in work by providing tailored support that links employment with health and wellbeing.
The free and voluntary programme will be delivered by employability charity Shaw Trust. (Image: NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight) Shelley Southon, chief operating officer at Shaw Trust, said: “We are delighted to have been selected as the new provider of this vital IPS service covering Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
“I cannot understate the power of IPS to completely transform a person’s life.
“It does this by supporting their health and employment needs at the same time. And it works.
“We’ve supported more than 19,000 people with IPS services, and our data is clear that those who find work are more likely to show an improvement in their wellbeing.
“There are financial benefits too, with an average wage of £32,000 for those who gained employment through one of our programmes.”
IPS Together will offer careers advice, benefits information, and personalised support to help individuals secure and maintain good quality jobs.
The service will also work closely with community mental health teams and act as a bridge between mental health teams and employers.
The service will provide tailored support. (Image: NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight) Jenny Erwin, deputy chief delivery officer at NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight, said: “Working with Shaw Trust is a great opportunity for us to provide support for people in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight with mental health challenges to help them find suitable long-term employment.
“We will be working closely with Shaw Trust to improve the confidence and wellbeing of people who would previously struggle with employment.”
Recent figures highlight the need for this type of support.
A survey found that 790,000 working-age people in Britain are currently off work due to mental health issues.
The survey also found that those who aren’t working overwhelmingly see work as a key part of their identity and a route to higher self-esteem, happiness and security.
In Hampshire, around 39,300 people—24 per cent of the working-age population—are economically inactive due to long-term sickness, with mental health being a leading cause.