Danziger Sheldon, Frank Richard G, Meara Ellen
Am J Psychiatry. 2009 Apr;166(4):398-404. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2008.08020297.
Improved treatment makes it easier for individuals with mental illness to participate in mainstream society, including the labor force. Nevertheless, a diagnosis of a severe and persistent mental illness or a substance use disorder often coincides with reduced work activity and lower earnings. The Social Security Disability Insurance Program and the Supplemental Security Income program provide income support for increasing numbers of individuals with mental illness. A growing share of a third program, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, which offers cash support to low-income single caregivers, is composed of individuals with mental illness, as new work requirements result in faster exits of those without mental health conditions. These programs have come under increasing scrutiny as the shares of recipients with mental illness increase. Some question whether these programs serve many individuals capable of working and supporting themselves. However, evidence on whether eligibility criteria for these income support programs are too stringent or too lax regarding individuals with mental illness is mixed. Appropriate income support policy for those with mental illness will differ dramatically depending on the source of the recent rise in individuals with mental illness using income support.
改进的治疗方法使患有精神疾病的人更容易融入主流社会，包括劳动力市场。然而，被诊断患有严重且持续性精神疾病或物质使用障碍往往与工作活动减少和收入降低同时出现。社会保障残疾保险计划和补充保障收入计划为越来越多患有精神疾病的人提供收入支持。第三个计划——为低收入单亲照顾者提供现金支持的贫困家庭临时援助计划，其越来越大的份额由患有精神疾病的人构成，因为新的工作要求使得没有精神健康问题的人更快地退出该计划。随着患有精神疾病的受助者比例增加，这些计划受到了越来越多的审查。一些人质疑这些计划是否服务了许多有工作能力并能自给自足的人。然而，关于这些收入支持计划针对患有精神疾病的人的资格标准是过于严格还是过于宽松的证据并不一致。对于患有精神疾病的人的适当收入支持政策将因近期使用收入支持的患有精神疾病的人数增加的原因不同而有很大差异。
