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Definitely, some people with mental illness are very productive. There is however, all manner of abilities out there. I personally don't consider it an illness and it isn't really suffering (or it doesn't have to be). Many indigenous cultures treat the so called 'mentally ill' much differently.

Forcing someone to function normally when they are on some odd vision quest and relating to reality differently is doing them a disservice in my mind. It is better to let them have a minimum of support until they can get back to reality enough to do some service back for you (job). At that point they might just solve some usual problems.