Well, one, what's your alternative? Force depressed people who can't hold down a job to starve on the streets? We're trying that approach now, does it seem to b

Well, one, what's your alternative? Force depressed people who can't hold down a job to starve on the streets? We're trying that approach now, does it seem to be working out well? If you have a survival stipend, it's probably a lot more common for qualified, competent people to have career gaps. I probably would, personally. That makes it easier for the depressed kid to compete whenever he decides to rejoin the job market. (Also, for some reason, parents who set up trust funds tend not to worry about this....) Also chances are if the depressed kid stays home for a few years, he will find some calling he actually likes - programming, music, writing, some specific type of research, whatever - and come out of it with a particular qualification to do something. What's the benefit to the depressed kid of having him flip burgers and stack shelves and have no time to figure out what he actually enjoys?