Health impacts of a WISE: a longitudinal study

This paper reports findings from the first year of the Vanguard Laundry evaluation study, which explores the impacts of a work integration social enterprise (WISE) on the health of staff with lived experience of mental illness. Interview and health survey data provided evidence that the WISE mainly impacted the social determinants of health through employment, social contact, increased income, improved social status and living conditions (Elmes 2019). Most staff reported improved health, social support and well-being, and increased confidence and sense of purpose (Elmes 2019).