R. Warner et P. Polak, THE ECONOMIC ADVANCEMENT OF THE MENTALLY-ILL IN THE COMMUNITY .1. ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES, Community mental health journal, 31(4), 1995, pp. 381-396
Consumer cooperatives have been shown to be feasible in Europe for gen
erating adequately reimbursed jobs for the mentally ill, and may be vi
able in the U.S.. Such businesses can gain a market advantage by offer
ing goods and services to mental health agencies or to the consumer gr
oup. Interviews with 50 mentally ill people living in Boulder, Colorad
o, identified sizable markets controlled by consumers: the average men
tally ill person in the sample consumes $2,000 a month in psychiatric
treatment, accommodation, food, medication and other goods and service
s. The findings suggest several income-generating opportunities. Consu
mers can be employed as mental health service providers, under certain
conditions a consumer-cooperative pharmacy may be established, and so
me types of housing cooperative are viable.