08-13-2013, 02:22 PM
Classification of mental illnesses isn't as much of the cause as the unions of correctional officers and the pharmaceutical industry. We decided to reduce mental illness facilities with the advent of pharmaceuticals, so instead we give individuals with mental illnesses SSI disability to take care of themselves with medication. Since sending out checks is cheaper than running facilities with medical staff the government has reduced criteria to qualify for SSI disability. All in all we spend about the same on mental illness as a % of GDP, just in a different way, which in-turn hurts the severely mentally ill because they can't take care of themselves no matter how much SSI disability they have and there aren't enough mental facilities to support them now. The increase in prison population is related to the severely mentally ill having nowhere else to turn but it's mostly because of drug laws.