If your mental disorders prevent you from holding a job, I would apply for it. I am 22 and considering it because I have tried working and my mental issues interfered too much with all three jobs I attempted even the work study job my first year of college and that wasn't even hard work or fast paced.

Speaking of that the mental issues also are the main reason I dropped out of college. Besides the way I see it society is flawed...so the least it can do is help those of us who cannot function in it with a little something to live on...which is basically what SSI is. Or in the case of SSDI it would be what you've earned in Social Security or whatever by working.

But if you do apply for it try not to get down on yourself about it, I know it can be hard especially with a lot of the political rhetoric about how people who need financial help and such are just 'leeches' or whatever. But it's not worth it......you're not a lesser person for needing help.

Also it does not have to be a permanent thing as far as I Know, you could apply and get on it for a while until you could find a job you could function in or maybe in the future your symptoms would improve some or be easier to manage and you could work.