Once someone hears the word “schizophrenia” from a doctor as a possible diagnosis, they and/or their family often want to learn as much as possible about the illness. Which is wise, since there is significant misinformation and misunderstanding of schizophrenia. Over the years, I’ve compiled a list of various ways you can learn more.
General Resources:
https://www.helpguide.org/home-pages/schizophrenia.htm Offers some very specific advice not always found in other guides.
https://www.livingwithschizophreniauk.org/modern-treatments/ A very comprehensive guide, addresses all the typical information plus issues like debt, depression, and mental health care for people who are caregivers of a person with schizophrenia.
http://www.schizophrenia.ca/learn_more_about_schizophrenia.php
http://www.bcss.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/basic-facts-141.pdf A helpful online booklet about schizophrenia in printable form.
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/schizophrenia-booklet/index.shtml Another helpful online booklet, has a PDF you can download.
http://www.schizophrenia.com/family/perstory5.htm Personal stories by family members about what they saw happening to their loved one as they began to develop schizophrenia and what they recommend if you think you or one of your loved ones may be developing the illness.
- Free information: NAMI has brochures and fact sheets on the illnesses, adult mental health system, data practices laws, dealing – with a crisis and understanding the criminal justice system.
- Classes: NAMI has classes and programs that may be of interest to the families of your clients. Hope for Recovery, Family-to-Family, and Children’s Challenging Behaviors.
- Support Groups: NAMI has support groups for families and for persons living with a mental illness.
- Help Line: NAMI provides information on locating resources and navigating the mental health system.
- Educational Conferences: NAMI hosts educational conferences with great speakers and information for providers, families and persons with a mental illness.
• Special Topics: NAMI holds workshops on retaining custody when seeking residential services for a child, Evidence-Based Practices (EBP), and dealing with a crisis.
Hope For Recovery Workshops (held Saturdays from 9:00 to 3:00 unless noted; call NAMI-MN, 651-645-2948.)
Resources for Families:
Forums for family members of people with schizophrenia to talk to each other about how to help their loved ones or get support and advice
http://forum.schizophrenia.com/category/family
https://www.facebook.com/groups/friendsfamilyschizophrenia/
http://www.healthcentral.com/schizophrenia/c/120/158043/forum-helping/
http://www.supportingfamilies.org.nz/resources/mental-health-info/schizophrenia.aspx
Blogs written by people with schizophrenia disorders
- http://www.healthyplace.com/blogs/creativeschizophrenia/
- https://mypersonalrecoveryfromschizophrenia.wordpress.com/
- http://overcomingschizophrenia.blogspot.com/
- http://schizophreniasucks.blogspot.com/
- http://www.schizoaffectivedisorder.bravepages.com/index.htm
- https://stickingittostigma.com/
Vlogs on YouTube by people with schizophrenia disorders
- Rachel Withers
Resources for people with schizophrenia:
Forums where people with schizophrenia talk to each other online
- forum.schizophrenia.com/
- http://www.psychforums.com/schizophrenia/
- http://www.schizophreniaforum.org/
- https://www.mentalhealthforum.net/forum/forum31.html
- http://www.healthyplace.com/thought-disorders/
- http://ehealthforum.com/health/schizophrenia.html
- https://schizophrenia.supportgroups.com/
- http://www.experienceproject.com/groups/Suffer-From-Paranoid-Schizophrenia/71969
Books about Schizophrenia:
The Complete Family Guide to Schizophrenia: Helping Your Loved One Get the Most Out of Life, by Kim T. Mueser, PhD and Susan Gingerich, MSW, 2006, The Guilford Press—a very thorough, practical, and easy-to-read guide, highly recommended
I Am Not Sick, I Don’t Need Help! Helping the Seriously Mentally Ill Accept Treatment: A practical guide for families and therapists, by Xavier Amador, 2011, Vida Press
Surviving Schizophrenia: A Manual for Families, Patients, and Providers, by E. Fuller Torrey, M.D., 5th edition copyright 2006, HarperCollins Publishers–an excellent resource, covers the nature, causes, symptoms, and treatment of schizophrenia, as well as how people and their families survive this illness
Diagnosis Schizophrenia: A Comprehensive Resource, by Rachel Miller and Susan E. Mason, 2002 Columbia University Press–a great resource, includes many first-person accounts by people with schizophrenia, as well as chapters by professionals on a wide range of issues from hospitalization to rehabilitation
The Everything Health Guide to Schizophrenia, by Dean Haycock, 2009, Adams Media–an excellent resource with straightforward and easy to understand explanations
The Center Cannot Hold: My Journey Through Madness, by Elyn R. Saks, 2007, Hyperion Books–an excellent memoir about living with schizophrenia
National Resources for Schizophrenia/Mental Illness:
American Psychiatric Association
1000 Wilson Blvd, Suite 1825
Arlington, VA 22209
703-907-7300
Mental Health America (formerly NMHA)
2000 N. Beauregard St.
6th Floor
Alexandria, VA 22311
1-800-969-NMHA (6642)
National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression (NARSAD)
60 Cutter Mill Road, suite 404
Great Neck, NY 11021
516-829-0091
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Public Information Branch
6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 8184, MSC 9663
Bethesda, MD 20892