Bad Tölz: Integration of the mentally ill into the labor market - ReAL manager Torhorst calls for pilots

Created: 07/25/2022, 07:22

By: Victoria Gray

Mental illnesses have increased during the corona pandemic.

(Iconic image) © panthermedia/HayDimitriy

Bad Tölz/Tutzing – Recently, at the “Participate!

The mentally ill and the world of work” at the Evangelical Academy in Tutzing, experts from psychiatry, representatives from the employment agency and experts from the social and pension insurance institutions.

Among others, Arnold Torhorst, founder and head of the ReAL network in Bad Tölz, was there.

According to the ReAL press release, all experts at the appointment agreed: The successful treatment of mentally ill people depends not only on medication and therapy, but also on whether it is possible to get a job or training position for those affected or to find new.

"It wouldn't be that difficult because there are enough offers, but this field is so complicated that hardly anyone understands it," said Arnold Torhorst, the founder of the ReAL network, at the conference.

He therefore called for the introduction of a pilot position, which would best be located in the social psychiatric service.

While there was agreement among those present in Tutzing, the district of Upper Bavaria, as the cost bearer, still resisted this solution.

Incomprehensible to Torhorst: "It's just a single job that would cost between 30,000 and 35,000 euros per year."

Torhorst explained that a pilot who is well versed in the "jungle of socio-political regulations and the thicket of the various forms of financing" is essential "in order to find an appropriate solution for each individual, independently of the individual service providers".

Arnold Torhorst, head of the ReAL network.

© ReAL

However, integration or reintegration into the labor market can only be successful at regional level.

"We need guides who are very familiar with the structures and offers on site, a guide who is familiar with the jungle of socio-political regulations," demanded the ReAL manager.

For the district of Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen, the social psychiatric service under the sponsorship of Caritas would therefore be the ideal partner for this task.

There is a simple reason why Torhorst is so passionate about this project: "Every mentally ill person not only has a right to treatment and rehabilitation, but also a right to work." Torhorst is convinced that the integration of those affected into the labor market can be doubled with the help of a pilot.

And that's why he now wants to continue campaigning at the political level for the fact that this can be realized in the near future.

According to Torhorst, rehabilitation for people with mental illnesses (RPK) is already being implemented very successfully.

"The corresponding recommendation agreement, which has been in force since 2005, is currently being amended and adjusted," said Torhorst.

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Odds of success surprisingly good

This is a "complex measure with parts of medical and professional rehabilitation with adaptation to the respective condition of the person undergoing rehabilitation".

The aim of the two-year measure is that after a year of medical rehabilitation, the person concerned is made fit for gainful employment in the twelve months that follow.

The chances of success are surprisingly good: Torhorst puts the proportion of successful integration into the labor market at 85 to 95 percent.

The ReAL network with the locations in Bad Tölz, Munich and Rosenheim is based on a smooth transition.

During the RPK, participants in the so-called additional earnings program are given the opportunity to stabilize their abilities with a certain financial incentive and, in individual cases, to expand further vocational rehabilitation.

"And there is the possibility that the participants in the areas of craftsman service, carpentry, production workshop, kitchen, spice manufacture or housekeeping can be taken on in an employment relationship subject to social security contributions," said Torhorst in conclusion.