My 28 year old son was recently diagnosed with schizophrenia. He is coming to live with me in a couple of weeks and I don't even know what to do first. We live in Indiana. Can I get help with paying for his meds and counseling? Will anyone give him a job? My initial thought is that I should try to obtain disability for him for at least a little while.
Any information would be so appreciated.
Hello,
It is possible your son can get a job if he's able to function well enough to do the work. This will be most likely be possible if he adheres to his treatment, takes his medication, and also uses therapy or a support group for feedback and encouragement.
I have SZ and I've worked for 19 years full-time at various jobs. My current job I've had for nine years. Your son will have to take care not to mention his diagnosis to any potential employer, as you may have guessed, there's still stigma attached to having a mental illness and SZ is at the top when it comes to stigma.
What your son could do is be active in the world, even if he doesn't work, have friends, go out to movies and restaurants, socialize, interact with people. That is the best defense against the SZ symptoms.
It is possible he can obtain government disability benefits and then go to work in the future. I collected SSD and Medicaid for three years, and then found my first full-time job. A state agency, like VESID in New York State and whatever it's called in Indiana, would be available to train people with disabilities to get work. That's how I got my first job as an administrative assistant.
So your son has options. He could have a bright future if he commits to his recovery.
Best regards,
Christina Bruni
Featuring Content From:
By using this service, you accept our Terms of Use. Please read them. The consumer health information on is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions. You should promptly seek professional medical care if you have any concern about your health, and you should always consult your physician before starting a fitness regimen. Copyright © 2012 Remedy Health Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Where I live, in Texas, there is a Mental Health Mental Retardation center in my county that provides counseling, doctors, and help with medication costs on a sliding scale. Maybe there is something similar near you? Here there is also the Texas Rehabilitationn Commission which evaluates a person's level of disability and helps place them in a job commensurate with his or her skills. But applying for SSDI might also be good. Go to ths Social Security site online and see what the rules are for qualifying for disability pay. This site also has the application form you can fill out online. Or places like Allsup.com will file an application for you and help collect the necessary info from doctors, therapists, etc.
Carolyn