Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

The economic advancement of the mentally ill in the community: 1. Economic opportunities

  • Published:
Community Mental Health Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Consumer cooperatives have been shown to be feasible in Europe for generating adequately reimbursed jobs for the mentally ill, and may be viable in the U.S.. Such businesses can gain a market advantage by offering goods and services to mental health agencies or to the consumer group. Interviews with 50 mentally ill people living in Boulder, Colorado, identified sizable markets controlled by consumers: the average mentally ill person in the sample consumes $2,000 a month in psychiatric treatment, accommodation, food, medication and other goods and services. The findings suggest several income-generating opportunities. Consumers can be employed as mental health service providers, under certain conditions a consumer-cooperative pharmacy may be established, and some types of housing cooperative are viable.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Anthony, W.A., Cohen, M.R. & Danley, K.S. (1988) The Psychiatric Rehabilitation Model as Applied to Vocational Rehabilitation. In Cardiello, J.A. & Bell, M.D. (eds.)Vocational Rehabilitation of Persons with Prolonged Psychiatric Disorders, Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, pp. 59–80.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boyles, P. (1988) Mentally Ill Gain a Foothold in Working World,The Boston Sunday Globe, June 5.

  • Brown, G.W., Carstairs, G.M. & Topping, G. (1958) Post-hospital adjustment of chronic mental patients.Lancet, ii:685–9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davis, M. & Thompson, B. (1988)Cooperative Housing: A Development Primer. Washington, D.C.: National Cooperative Business Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Edesess, M. & Polak, P. (1994)Market-Driven Product Development as a Model for Aid-Assisted International Development, Denver: International Development Enterprises.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fairweather, G.W., Sanders, D.H., Maynard, H. et al. (1969)Community Life of the Mentally Ill. Chicago: Aldine.

    Google Scholar 

  • Glasscote, R.M., Cumming, E., Rutman, I. et al. (1971)Rehabilitating the Mentally Ill in the Community. Washington, D.C.: Joint Information Service of the American Psychiatric Association and the National Association for Mental Health.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krueger, A.O. & Ruttan, V.W. (1989). Development Thought and Development Assistance. In A.O. Krueger, C. Michalopoulos & V.W. Ruttan (eds.)Aid and Development. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, pp. 13–31.

    Google Scholar 

  • Polak, P. & Kirby, M. (1976) A Model to Replace Psychiatric Hospitals,Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 162:13–22.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Polak, P., Warner, R. & Mosher, L. (1992)Feasibility Study Report on the Development of a Consumer Oriented System of Pharmacies for the Mentally Ill. Prepared for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, January 15.

  • Rau, W. (1991)From Feast to Famine: Official Cures and Grassroots Remedies to Africa's Food Crisis. London: Zed Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sauder, A. (1992)Independent Evaluation of IDE's Manual Irrigation Project, Winnipeg: MEDA Consulting.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schultz, T.W. (1969) New Evidence on Farmer Responses to Economic Opportunities from the Early Agrarian History of Western Europe. In C.R. Wharton (ed.)Subsistence Agriculture and Economic Development. Chicago: Aldine, pp. 105–110.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sherman, P.S. & Porter, R. (1991) Mental Health Consumers as Case Management Aides,Hospital and Community Psychiatry, 42:494–498.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Surles, R.C., Morrison, B.J., Sheets, J.L. & Shaheen, G.E. (1992)Buy OHM Directory of Products and Services, Albany, N.Y.: New York State Office of Mental Health Bureau of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services.

    Google Scholar 

  • Warner, R. (1985).Recovery from Schizophrenia: Psychiatry and Political Economy. Boston: Routledge & Kegan Paul.

    Google Scholar 

  • Warner, R. & Polak, P. (1995) The Economic Advancement of the Mentally Ill in the Community: 2. Economic Choices and Disincentives,Community Mental Health Journal, 31: (in press).

  • World Bank (1984)Toward Sustained Development in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Joint Program of Action. Washington, D.C.: World Bank.

    Google Scholar 

  • World Bank (1989)Sub-Saharan Africa: From Crisis to Sustainable Growth. Washington, D.C.: World Bank.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Colorado, Colorado, USA

    Richard Warner M.B., D.P.M. (Medical Director)

  2. International Development Enterprises, Lakewood, Colorado, USA

    Paul Polak M.D. (President)

  3. Mental Health Center of Boulder County, 1333 Iris Ave., 80304, Boulder, CO

    Richard Warner M.B., D.P.M. (Medical Director)

Authors
  1. Richard Warner M.B., D.P.M.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Paul Polak M.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

The research presented in this paper was conducted under a contract (order no. 92MF0389101D) from the Community Support Section, NIMH.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Warner, R., Polak, P. The economic advancement of the mentally ill in the community: 1. Economic opportunities. Community Ment Health J 31, 381–396 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02207524

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02207524

Keywords

Search

Navigation