How can people with a mental illness achieve independent living? As in living within the community I mean. Specify please and/or add steps of how they can achieve independent living.
Judith
Favorite Answer
Depends upon the illness and its severity. I happen to think that most people with mental illnesses can work as long as they are undergoing talk therapy to help them deal with issues as they arise and with medication if need be. Much would depend upon the type of work they are able to do as well.
I am bipolar and managed to work for the federal government for 32 years before my illness became so severe that I could no longer work. And I suspect I could have worked much longer had I worked in a less stressful job (I was a claims rep with social security) where I didn't have to deal with the public and meet office goals in the processing of claims. I also worked with many, many people who suffered from depression and anxiety disorders plus, of course, I interviewed many people who worked for years before their illnesses caused them to stop working.
There would be no reason why people with mental illnesses who are able to work couldn't live independently like anyone else. And even those who can't work could live independently on their disability benefits - maybe they would have to have roommates or would have to rent a room but they could certainly learn to live on their income.
I think that those people with severe mental disorders who are unable to live independently within the community are in the minority and they could probably learn how to manage if they had the support of friends and relatives who would help them when needed by helping them find a place to live, teaching them how to manage money (or managing their money for them) and providing them with transportation if unable to use a public system e.g. buses.
Dorothy C
You are making it sound as if all people with psychiatric disabilities have equal strengths and weaknesses.
Many people have disabilities that do not interfere with achieving independence. Others can do so with varying amounts of medication and emotional support. And then there are some, that despite medications, and all possible support, are not able to live independently.
One problem is that some families tend to encourage psychiatrically disabled members from achieving independence. They do this by doing too much for them, and not expecting much from these relatives. They believe that they are being helpful.
sophieb
I suppose if they had the right medication for them they could hold down a job. Any person with a problem situation can work from home as in open their own business. Most of the time a person needs a certain income to live off of to be independent and usually people with psychiatric disabilities are on SS benefits, and those benefits are low. "sometimes" (you'd have to check if it's in this particular case though) if a person works then what they earn is deducted from their SS benefits so they'd still have low income. So the question would be more like would the person have a degree or specialty or vocational training of some sort (as this is the beginning of earning). Today too it's difficult to get work, or get work without traveling and so it's hard for those on SSdisability to get out into the community. Perhaps this person can talk with a counselor locally who could help them better than we can, or maybe send them to Vocational Rehabilitation and Goodwill for answers.
Teddy's Mom Chiliswoman
Homework? They take the same steps anyone takes to achieve independent living.
Lynn
Most people with mental illnesses do live independently.