Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Career Development of Individuals With Psychiatric Disabilities

Objective: The purpose of this preliminary exploratory study was to explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the career development of diverse individuals with psychiatric disabilities.Methods: Four hundred sixty-nine individuals with psychiatric disabilities and 147 individuals without psychiatric disabilities completed survey questions regarding their employment and educational experiences during the pandemic. We utilized chi-square analyses to explore the differences between those with and without psychiatric disabilities and between racial groups.Results: Our results indicated that individuals with psychiatric disabilities, especially Black, Indigenous, and other people of color (BIPOC), experienced greater employment-related uncertainty during the COVID-19 pandemic than the population without psychiatric disabilities.Conclusions and Implications for Practice: Individuals with psychiatric disabilities, particularly BIPOC, need access to more stable employment and supports to maintain their employment.