You know I didn't go out on disability until I was in the psych system for 15 -20 years and I do attribute my decline to psych meds...not underlying pathology!

In hindsight it's pretty damn clear and I'm more and more suspecting the doctor never even had a right to call me mentally ill....it was all drug induced. Starting with my own hallucinogenic drug use---but it should have been identified as such and not a permanent pathology that I needed treatment for for the rest of my life. Just as when antidepressants cause mania---drug induction---clear and simple much of the time.

Sorry, I don't think SSI figures are relevant for charting upswings in the diagnosis of mental disorders. I think they are relevant to people learning more about SSI benefits for mental illnesses, as well as people's realization that it will almost always take more than one application to receive any benefits. Perhaps parents of boys are more diligent in applying for and receiving benefits due to the larger threat of violence and fear of incarceration if their children cannot gain a little control of their illness. Without money to pay for meds and docs, I'm quite sure my 17 yo son would be in the corrections system by now.

Perhaps the upswing in attorneys specializing in SSI applications (and advertising that fact) has more impact on these figures than anything else.

"You have to be pretty darn ill to wind up on SSI. What the hell is at work here?".

Here's some perspective on SSI in the adult system:

It's very hard to get SSI as an adult let alone a child. You have to prove you cannot work. My daughter's SSI process started when she was inpatient in hospitals when she turned 18[legal adult].It took records from doctors,psychiatrists, history and severity of illness,[psychosis NOS]and hospital records, with all dates needed.[and the files] It's a long process and hard to get.[process took 6 months and typically is denied].What then happens with that SSI $ fluctuates-depending on living situation[such as residential care]she also attained medicaid coupon, which pays for dental, medical and her medications in her case.[BUT not her out patient psychiatrist, and not most dentists take it either] Her residential care facility runs off of SSI/medicaid. Residents get $15.00 a week of that.[and their meds] The rest is considered room and board. She is considered gravely disabled and unable to work. I agree with that right now. But $15.00 a week doesn't buy many clothes, shoes, winter coats, personal care, or other things.Unless a client has family/friends to help with bedding, books, clothes, all those things you might want in your room--etc., it's 15.00 a week, that doesn't go far.She also never would have gotten into her residential care facility if she didn't have SSI.[it's mandatory] She uses her 15.00[when feeling well enough to shop]like a 19 yr.old with allowance. Books, candy, a blanket for her bed. Mostly, she saves it.
~
One year ago, I had an inside source tell me that it is common for residential care facilities to keep everyone medicated, change meds around, and "keep 'em sick, cause they want the SSI money, it's a racket." Gives you something to think about eh?

IMS Health Reports Global Pharmaceutical Market Grew 7 Percent in 2005, to $602 Billion Link

I am sure it is more now. If income exceeds expenditure's all is well. Who cares if it is a medical science or not?

I reluctantly type that you may not be viewing these statistics with the appropriate level of cynicism. The way the system is set up, with a despotic establishment of "though leaders" at generally fairly corrupted top tier schools, the metrics that count are pharmaceutical sales, pharma co profits, campaign contributions, hospital beds filled, and social workers hours billed.

The very worst thing that could happen to the present "system," to be generous with my nomenclature, is that a cure be found for severe mental illnesses; there would go all the "consulting" (aka pimping) fees, the corporate profits and bonuses, the campaign contributions, the hospital beds filled, salaries for generally intellectually mediocre "rent a friends" known as social workers and therapists - it beats a real job. With a heavy heart, I post that I think that as long as the system is at is, the very last consideration will be the wellbeing of the patients.

This is why I am so inordinately encouraged by Congressman Paul's running for president; he wants to get the federal government, and to a not insignificant degree big pharma out of the their corrosive roles in maintaining the status quo. I urge every reader who suspects that the "healthcare" they've received may have had more to do with satisfying a predatory and corrupt system to go over to Dr. Paul's website, www.ronpaul2008.com, and form their own opinion.

Robert Whitaker's article "Anatomy of an Epidemic: Psychiatric Drugs and the Astonishing Rise of Mental Illness in America" deals with exactly this issue.

Basically, Whitaker says that once you're on a couple of psych meds (and who ever gets prescribed just one?), you're well down the road to chronic disability.

This would certainly seem to be the case with most of the psych patients I've talked to. The "cure" is worse than the "disease."

Here's the Whitaker article:

http://psychrights.org/Articles/EHPPPsychDrugEpidemic(Whitaker).pdf

In the County in California I live in, there is probably 90% of people living hand to mouth on SSI/SSP at $856 and now a COLA raise as of today Dacember 31st, 2007 of aproximately another $32 per month on top of that for a individual.
It is pitifully easy to get on SSI/SSP in California. It is a way of life.
You have many that live together in a household each getting the over eight hundred each a month and that multiplies into quite a bit of tax payers money. Most in my small town of just over 200 are all on SSI/SSP. They own their property free and clear thru inheritance and have several cars. Many have at a minimum 5 plus acres. They get homeowners assistance as well each year and pay absolutely no taxes except for around the average of $200 a year on their properties. They all talk each 1st of duh month about stratigies for getting other family and friends on 'checks'. Look around sometime at all the handicaped placards hanging or on the plates of people driving around. Look around on the 1st of duh month. They are all on 'checks'. Free Medical, free Cash Assistance. Why? Oh Why do they do it? Because a SSI/SSP never has ever had to work a Single Day in their Life, nor' ever will. They are proud and happy to sit and either become morbidly obese and toothless or strung out on meth, meds for pain, and alcoholism. Many cash their checks at liquor stores or bars to 'pay their tab' and begin again their month long process of SSI/SSP waste. There are more of them than tax paying workers probably. Or there will soon be more of the SSI's than workers, then what will happen to Social Security for those that worked all their lives and paid the SSI's? Why all the mental disorders increasing BECAUSE IT IS FREE MONEY, what else. It's going to get bigger and bigger too, free money is free money and the more people figure it out they will apply and get SSI/SSP money.

Many on SSi need that money, sure there are those that scam and get free money, but a lot of us have serious mental illness and need help....our only other alternative is suicide or homelessness

Its a shame!!That they say i wont get ssi in my generation.And the goverment lets people on ssi now get away with drug dealing,using without testing them.They are making so much money and i cant even get food stamps.what can be done??

I FEEL THE SAME WAY YOU DO, AND I AM GLAD TO HEAR IT FROM SOMEONE OTHER THAN ME. I HAVE C.O.P.D.
AND PROGRESIVE SPOTS GROWING ON MY LUNGS. AND ARTHARITIS IN AL JOINTS. I HAVE BEEN DENIED 7 TIMES AND STILL FIGHTING FOR SOME TYPE OF ASSISTANCE..... LETS KEEP TALKING, MAYBE SOMEONE WILL LISTEN. THANK'S