We live in a changing society where there is a constant review and assessment of values. However, issues of increases in the numbers of claimants for disability pensions based on some dubiously untestable and intangible criteria – such as “stress” (whatever that is) I have suspicion about. At times in my life and I guess at times in everyone else’s life we have all experienced “stress”.

When does the issue of “stress” or many other maladies cross the line between being

“a real problem” to be resolved by social support ?

to

simply a need to grow up and “deal with the issues” of our own life ?

If someone suffers work-stress – as I have done – they can change jobs – as I have done.
If someone needs counselling they can visit a counsellor - as I have done (when needed – and all my own money well spent)

I understand there is an empirical difference between an intellectual disability (limited intellectual capacity), a mental disorder (eg schizophrenia) and a personality based disorder (stress) – if we are to start to assess personality disorders as a basis for “disability” – we are moving the goal posts – and thus changing the population and expectations of those requiring support – whilst that may be virtuous it will also be expensive – as more and more of the “personality disordered” claim support at the expense of the “personality ordered”.

It is very hard on someone who has an “anti-social” personality to function within society – but how much of that “burden” should society “support” and how much of that burden is it the responsibility of the individual to resolve?

Ultimately, we can all find “issues” which inhibit or restrain us from being perfect. Deciding which of those “issues” merit a “pension” and which do not, requires even more than the wisdom of Solomon - which is alot more than you are ever going to find dealing with the folk at Centrelink.

Col

The roots of personality disorders are in childhood. Of course there is a genetic basis and also luck, in terms of how good the hand you are dealt is.

The most effective way to ensure that children grow up with ordered personalities is to be a 'nanny state' to some extent, and provide dysfunctional parents with resources and encouragement to ensure that their children receive a reasonable level of care and attention.

This is not socialism, it is commonsense based on psycholgocial knowledge.

Also, it is not the folk at Centrelink who decide who is eligible for DSP. It requires the applicants own medical practitioner to fill in a very comprehensive form and then an assessment by a Centrelink approved medical consultant. Presumably, these people are capable of diagnosing and distinguishing 'disability' from stress.

It is simply not the case that anyone on the dole can ask to go onto disability. Even to be considered as an applicant requires a long time on newstart and participation in job search agencies which have not produced any prospect of employment.

Read one of the previous posts about the difficulty of obtaining DSP.

with respect to getting people off DSP, private psychiatric and psychological services are very expensive and there simply are not enough public practitioners available. This would appear to be a factor that limits the liklihood of people being able to return to work.

As another of the previous posts pointed out, it is quite well known that serious psychological problems are increasing and although you may be as happy as a pig in mud, there are many people who obviously are not.

Perhaps you should be feeling grateful that you are such a superior type of person and do not have to live on the small amount of money that DSP pays. I think it is around $240 a week.

Mollydukes "As another of the previous posts pointed out, it is quite well known that serious psychological problems are increasing and although you may be as happy as a pig in mud, there are many people who obviously are not."

So you claim - yet life and lifestyle are easier than they have ever been - maybe we should turn back the clock, restore the Devine Right of Kings, the authority of the church, restrict the vote to land owner men only and make the wife the subject of her husband - or maybe forego all this business about saving premature babies and let only the healthy ones survive, presumably with the emotional, as well as the physical, strength and disposition.

Quite honestly if you think people are really less happy today than they have ever been - I can only assume they are either

not dealing with living longer or

they are a bunch of woosies who expect the world to be placed at their feet and evolve around them or

maybe the methods of data analysis and capture have changed but -

most likely - some psychiatrists have discovered the benefits of service marketing - and so promote their personal agendas and bank balances by exaggerating the need for their existence.

I suggest you grow up and think for a change, instead of simply having a kneeejerk disagreement with anything I write.

I,ve seen with my own eyes and heard enough anecdotal evidence to know that the DSP is being rorted by dishonest people.It is not just the $240.00 pw but all the ancillary benefits such as rent subsidies,and concessions in areas such as transport,power and even supply of free white goods.Some of the hard core ones have private charities doing back flips for them.

When you feed the native birds in your back yard,they become dependant upon you and their numbers artifically increase.When you go on holidays they starve.

Shouldn't we be teaching people how to fend for themselves since they will be more able to weather the hard times.

I can't imagine going through life and to have never worked a single day.
Perhaps I'm too geared for working and should consider becoming a bludger.

Arjay,
what do you do with the birds who were able to fend for themselves then they got sick and needed help? You help them to get well and then if possible release them back to fend for themselves again.

DSP is the same, illness can not be boxed and no system is without problems. For those who need and can get DSP it is a god send, we are still waiting to try and get DSP for my 21yr old son, who was working full time for 4yrs but can no longer due to mental illness.

I appreciate that we live in a society where help is possible no matter how difficult it is to get. If you have no empathy a little sympathy would be nice. I am a mother of five and university austudy student trying to assist my son, as well as get by and make my life more productive, without a caring supportive society this would not be possible. Everyone's tax dollars go to many good causes and my will as well. teekay

Teekay,I have no problem with the genuinely disabled.There are just too many who aren't genuine.There are many criminals on the DSP.The grey areas of mental disorders is very difficult to assess.Just like bad backs.Nearly everyone has suffered from this malady at some time in their lives. Too many doctors pander to patient's anxieties and minor ailments,since this is their lively hood.Why would they want to deprive themselves of an extra dollar?

The economic realities are that our economy will collapse unless we stop the acceleration in those who depend on social security as their sole source of income.

If you think times are tough now,just look at some of our third world neighbours where the real disabled beg and die in the streets.