Close Topic Options

Collecting State Disability For Depression

Collecting State Disability For Depression

If someone is clinically depressed they may be placed on certain medication which at times can be costly. Do you think it is fair for Tax Payers to pay for someone's depression?

Depression Disability State Collecting

I am in this position, and am getting free medications for my chronic depression and generalized anxiety, from a state facility.

I was also getting to see a "clinician" once or twice a month, whose job was to "listen and teach coping skills" - only bachelor degrees, they are not allowed to actually give "counseling". I also met with a psychologist (Master's degree) and the Psychiatrist (M.D.) every month, all for free, since I have no insurance or stable, sufficient income and no way to get the medications I need to keep my conditions under control.

The state has since cut funding to that facility and now I can still pick up my meds once a month, I only get to see the doctor once every few months unless there is an emergency, and all the counseling has been discontinued. There were severely disturbed and dysfunctional people that also had this happen, and have also lost their counseling sessions, which might have been the only thing that helped keep them on an even keel. I know for my part, just being able to talk to someone helped immensely - someone not a family member of friend, someone knowledgeable and directly attentive.

I don't know if it's "fair"; I guess it is, as that is what taxes are for in the first place, is to maintain adequate conditions for citizens to live, and I'd guess that includes helping take care of those who have extra trouble.