Helping Mentally Ill People Find Jobs Could Save Federal Government $368 Million A Year

[Mike 03]

From Medical News Today

"A national program to help mentally ill people on Social Security disability programs find jobs could spur greater independence while saving the federal government $368 million annually, according to a study by Robert Drake of Dartmouth Medical School and colleagues in the May-June 2009 issue of Health Affairs.

Approximately 27 percent of people who are receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits are mentally ill. Surveys show that up to 70 percent of people with mental illnesses want to work. Drake and his coauthors say that a national "supported employment" program would help these people, as well as those with mental illnesses who qualify for the separate Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, to earn incomes that could total up to $1.6 billion a year..."

More at link, including secondary link to PowerPoint Presentation on this topic.


http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/150786.php

[HysteryDiagnosis]

1. I'm all for putting republicans back to work.... does a body good... n/t

[shadowknows69]

6. As someone who suffers from mental illness I can't possibly express how unfunny that was

[HysteryDiagnosis]

18. Self delete

[HysteryDiagnosis]

20. I most humbly apologize for my insensitivity on this topic. n/t

[Posteritatis]

7. Can we please drop this ignorant, bigoted "mentally ill = republican" bullshit? (nt)

[HysteryDiagnosis]

19. I dropped it.... you? n/t

[santamargarita]

14. Republicans are socially unacceptable and I would never...

put anyone with a physical or mental disability at the same level with GOP scum.

[anigbrowl]

16. Fail.

[Traveling_Home]

2. Thanks nt

[jwirr]

3. There is such a program to support persons with developmental

disabilities to work. It is a very good program. However, I think there is a greater stigma with mental illness so it may be harder to find the jobs.

It would also help if SSDI and SSI were dealing with reality. My sister is a painter who can sell her work for up to $300 a job. But she can only paint when she is experiencing periods of good health. The problem is that if she paints when she can they will end her eligibility and kick her off of the programs. So she cannot paint at all because she will end up with no income at all for months at a time. I suspect that will be the case for many people who are called mentally ill. Damned if they do and damned if they don't.

[DonCoquixote]

4. Exactly

Add to this that most employers, especially in "right to work" states, will want to fire you. Truth be told, any employer can find any reason to fire you, even if, (and sometimes especially if) a union is there, because it is easy to shun and stigmatize people with a mental illness. I will not risk what little med coverage I have just so I can get fired (yet again) and wind up bankrupt (again), and risk my health going to pot (thankfully not again, but if I lost what I had, I would likely be blind or dead thanks to conditions that would not be getting treatment they need)

[Ms. Toad]

29. Right to work laws don't trump the ADA

and the ADA has been amended recently to make it closer to what was intended when it was originally passed. A disability is not a legal reason to fire an employee EVEN in a right to work state - so you actually have more protection than those of us who are temporarily able minded and bodied. (Doesn't mean it won't happen and it may cost lots in attorney fees - but you do have legal rights/protections.)

Medical coverage is another issue - my daughter may end up on SSI/SSD and it is the place between having too much income to qualify and too little income to afford health care that terrifies me (since her routine medical expenses run between $5000 and $10,000 a year).

[proud2BlibKansan]

5. I have a family member who is mentally ill and she wants to work

but I can't imagine what she would do. Let's say she has high expectations of her own talents. LOL

[Creena]

11. It's not much, but a number of grocery stores in my area hire disabled individuals as baggers.

But, I think it's only for residents at this one group home for the developmentally disabled. I suppose it all depends on the extent an individual can function with their illness. :shrug:

[anigbrowl]

15. Mental illness has nothing to do with intelligence

Not picking on you, just pointing out that retardation and illness are very different. Many mentally ill people (things like depression or so) are extremely capable, but may simply not fit into generic jobs where mood or personal demeanor is a factor. But it's quite hard to get a job if your criteria include things like 'no contact with the general public, does not enjoy telephones either', for example.

[Creena]

35. I understand the difference.

I just didn't explain the situation quite correctly. At first, the grocery stories dealt with county mental health services, but it's my understanding that their employment became difficult for reasons such as those you stated. They've now moved on to working with group homes for those with retardation. The stores had the hardest time with the DID and schizophrenia suffers, rather than OCD or phobic personalities. My apologies for the confusion, I hope I didn't offend anybody.

[proud2BlibKansan]

17. She has had several jobs

She has worked at WalMart, restaurants and grocery stores. She has no people skills and is very hard to get along with. I honestly can't imagine any job she could hold for long.

[Creena]

36. Ah, I see.

The original employees at the grocery store were, for the most part, able to bag the groceries or stock shelves. There were the ones with poor people skills and combative behavior that just couldn't work out, which is why the dropped the contract with mental health services.

[AllentownJake]

21. I'm Bi-Polar

Because of my socio-economic status I can hold a decent job. I graduated magna cum laude from college.

If I didn't have the resources to learn how to manage my illness, I'd be useless. The Federal Government gets taxes from me instead of me taking money.

[shadowknows69]

24. If I didn't have the resources to learn how to manage my illness, I'd be useless.

Welcome to my world, except I was refused SSI/Disability despite THEIR analysts agreeing that my condition would keep me from holding down a job. My appeal is scheduled for next April, and my lawyer says I won't even get it for my mental illness (my back is messed up too) because I haven't had a history of treatment for it. A vicious circle. If I could afford the treatment I wouldn't be so fucked up in the first place.

[AllentownJake]

26. I'm so sorry

:hug:

I was fortunate that me finally hitting the wall was when I had a job and could afford therapy. (20 paid visits the rest out of pocket) I'm nearly bankrupt because of it. I'm thankful because I am considered lucky in the system.

The biggest kick in the ass is if I ever needed private coverage right now, I'd never get it. I understand and I'm hoping this health care plan actually moves us in the right direction. I'd have to not have a decent living because Medicaid would be my only option.

[shadowknows69]

30. I could conceivably afford some therapy and I've been to a few around here

And frankly, not one of them I've met strikes me as competent enough to truly analyze me. I can read, I know my symptoms and I'm fairly sure of some of my problems, and some that I've seen have simply dismissed my own conclusions out of hand. After a 40 minute intake interview. One person I saw actually asked me all the same information the second time I saw her. Like she couldn't even be bothered to look at the basic facts on the five page questionaire I had to fill out.

I was refused therapy at one place until I went through a five day a week drug rehab program because I was apparently stupid enough to admit I still smoke marijuana, despite the fact I've kicked voluntarily stopped using Coke (rock and powder kids), meth, LSD, mushrooms, alcohol; but hey, they have their CREDO quotas to fill. Sorry, rant off now. (edit to add) I had to tell them to go fuck themselves on the whole rehab thing, which I also couldn't have afforded. Duh. They never seem to hear that you have no money.

[AllentownJake]

31. I went through 3 before I got a good one

All she did was repeat what I was saying to me and coach me on what I'll do in situations.

I'm not perfect, however, I'm not as fucked up.

[shadowknows69]

33. My last one was all about personal affirmation excercises

Gave me a list my first session, strike that, made me copy down a list, at 80 bucks an hour, to read to myself at home.

Shit like:
I'm a good person
I'm a likeable person
I can do this
Blah blah blah

What she didn't seem to get was I didn't even know what I was trying to "do". I needed a "professional" to find out what the hell was wrong with me first.

[AllentownJake]

34. The first one I had also had prescribing power

She was awful...constantly changing my medications based on what I said during a session. The second one and I didn't click.

The third one basically let me talk and let me hear what I was saying. I'm not going right now because we had moved up to personal relationships which was the trigger. I decided to take a break because the last thing I need is a Significant Other while I'm trying to get my own shit straightened out.

[Creena]

37. I've dealt with the SSI/Disability people before.

I too was denied for not having a history of treatment for Bi-Polar Disorder. I suffered through over 15 jobs in a three month span before giving up. After the denial, I contacted county health services who told me I wasn't crazy enough for their help. My mom finally convinced me to see a psychiatrist, which she paid for out of pocket. Now that I have proof of the disorder and am on medications, I can re-apply for SSI/Disability. But, now with the medication and help, I can hold down a job and don't need the assistance. The system is very much broken.

[DonCoquixote]

40. I hear that

I am in SSI limbo right now. I have 3 conditions that alone make me qualify, and that could each run me to the poorhouse. Fortunately, I have family that ensures I do get some treatment, though I am still crossing my fingers.

And as far as firing goes, no offense, but however says "you have legal resource" has never hired a lawyer, not dealt with the fact that employers do not really have to prove all that much. Most dimwits employees will vouch for them because a) they were creeped out by you (as happened in one "union" shop B) They see that they can loot your desk and whatever else you had/had the potential to get and C) Because left or right, attitudes about mental illness are primitive.

Of course, even though I have degrees that have done nothing more than get me student loan debt, I know one thing. I may be crazy, my brain, which earned a diagnosis of Asberger's and Bipolar, will NEVER be able to think like most people, but I am NOT the sort of Crazy that most common people consider "sane". I may not understand social dynamics, even on a place like this that attracts people a little off center, but I understand damned well that this WORLD is insane, and that I need not feel shame just because the world has a more fashionable madness than I do.

That being said, none of that pays for my medical Bills, nor the pills I live off of.

[Odin2005]

45. Thank God I'm not the only Bipolar Aspie here!

:hi:

[shadowknows69]

46. I'm 99% convinced I have Aspergers

The symptoms since I was very young are pretty obvious the more I read about it. I mentioned it to a couple of the Doctors/therapists I spoke with and they looked at me like I had three heads. I'm sure not a one of them knew what it was.

[Odin2005]

47. Most people, even many health professionals, are very ignorant about high-functioning autism.

Especially when those professionals are older, since Asperger's didn't exist as a diagnosis until 1994

[The Straight Story]

8. bush already had a job

:)

[Posteritatis]

9. See #7 (nt)

[shadowknows69]

12. Bad form my friend. Sorry, an issue I have a lot of personal investment in.

[The Straight Story]

13. Been there myself my friend

Nothing bad implied :) Only I have left after all these years is my sick and twisted sense of humor.

[proud patriot]

10. I like this idea

I'm the mother of a future receipient.

I think it would be a boost to the self esteem
of the mentally challenged .

[AllentownJake]

22. To anyone making a joke

I just want to say this is a serious issue that all too often gets brushed aside by people making jokes. I'm not thin skinned I could care less if you make a tasteless joke at my expense because I'm doing fine.

I'm bipolar, if I didn't have extensive therapy after my last episode to train me how to manage it when I have an episode I probably would be unemployed and on disability. I have that because of my socio economic status. There are people who don't. That is a tragedy in this country.

[sakabatou]

23. Good cause I need one

I have Aspergers.

[ck4829]

25. Regulating those 60-100 question "personality tests" would be a good first step

Those tests weed out "odd", but completely capable, people who have mental illness from working.

[Odin2005]

28. Yup, the type I usually get on those tests (INFJ) would get me rejected by those wanting drones.

[Posteritatis]

32. I haven't run into those, but I assume they'd reject I***? (nt)

[Odin2005]

38. IN**.

Our culture stigmatizes introversion and treats it as a character flaw. And the corporate elites don't want abstract thinkers that can think for themselves.

[Posteritatis]

41. Ugh; I'd be doomed there, then

I've been consistently INFP as long as I've been aware of those tests in general.

[Odin2005]

42. INFP = Albert Schweitzer & Princess Di = Corporatists do not like.

[Posteritatis]

43. It's good to be hated by the right people, at least (nt)

[Odin2005]

44. LOL, I'm suposedly the same type as Jimmy Carter and Gandhi, so I'm in good company, too!

LOL.

[Odin2005]

27. This would benefit me A LOT!

Asperger's Syndrome and Bipolar make it very hard for me to hold down a job. Until I get through college I'm stuck with low-pay service industry jobs that are pretty much worse then Hell to someone on the Autism spectrum. I have been stuck working for a non-profit company that contracts people with disabilities along with job coaches out to various job sites, mine for the past 2 years being at a preschool helping in the kitchen. But it's only minimum wage and 20 hrs/wk, Section 8 and SSI pay for everything else.

[hyphenate]

39. I respectfully disagree

I believe that a large portion of the mentally challenged could never be able to work--ever. I use as my example my brother Wayne. Wayne was 18 when he was in a horrific accident that essentially left him in coma for well over three years, and then he began to come out of it, and the head trauma had left him without much cognitive ability. His emotional IQ left him with the brain of about a 6 year old, in maturity and behavior.

It's been 31 years since that accident, and there is very little change over the span of the years. He might know some of the memories before the accident, but any memory since has been stunted. He watches comedies all day long, and laughs loudly at the jokes, but there is no growth in IQ, emotionally or intellectually.

Perhaps he is one of the exceptions to the rules, but I have seen and worked with patients who were incapable of doing anything other than be passive and minimally functional.

Many people who are OCD, schizophrenic, or otherwise similar must stay on their medications in order to function at all--not all of them can do that, and so they relapse back to the state of anxiety they were in before the medications.

On the other hand, I have seen some mentally challenged people managing to live independently, but they are all high functioning people. This would include many who have Down Syndrome, autism and others with IQs in the 50-80 point range. While IQ is not used much anymore, it does allow me to illustrate that there are various levels of ability and desire to be mainstreamed.

One illness that many people have is clinical depression. For those who have depression, there is a fine line between functioning and non-functioning. But push many depressed people past the level of their endurance, and many will be rendered helpless. Depression can be in a wide number of people who have never been considered "mentally ill" but because there is a stigma associated with mental health professionals, there is only a small percentage of people who ever get their depression under control. These people are the ones who try to stay in their jobs and in their own social circles, but have a hard time staying focused.

The more stable the patient, the greater the chance that they can take integration into society, but I would hesitate to say the percentage is as large as this article says.

[DonCoquixote]

48. Aspie

OK, I apologize if this should go on another forum, but there is a lot that needs to be said about being an Aspie.

It has not diagnosed until recently, and like many other disorders, it is poorly documented. What trips people up is that, very often, the person has a high IQ (156 myself) but is often useless at social communication and interaction. Employment is always risky, always tenuous, because people always get freaked out by that guy in the corner who often has a touch of OCD and/or Manic Depression and creepy social skills. There are people who are employed, but those are people like Bill Gates who have more or less made a niche where their lack of social interaction is an asset (especially since we get accused of having no empathy), of course, those chances are few and tenous. I do not mind the idea of earning my bread, I have worked everywhere from State Prisons to Funeral Homes, but, inevitably, sooner or later, I get the "you just are not a good fit for us" speech. Now, things have degenerated to the point where I simply cannot be depended on to hold down a job, my body and brain have told me in no uncertain terms that I am no longer in the race.