There are several things that family members and friends can do to help someone with schizophrenia, such as raising their own awareness, listening, guiding them toward treatment, and simply not being afraid to talk about it.
Schizophrenia is a serious, chronic mental health condition that impacts how someone thinks, behaves, and feels. People with schizophrenia may experience symptoms or act in ways that cause distress, both for the person experiencing it and those around them, especially friends and family.
This article discusses several ways in which people can help someone with schizophrenia. It also looks at some things to avoid doing and how to encourage someone to seek treatment.
Being a caretaker or support person for someone who has schizophrenia requires patience and understanding. Here are some tips that may be useful to consider:
1. Learn more about schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a mental health condition that
Raise your awareness of schizophrenia
One of the most helpful things people can do is to educate themselves. Learn more about schizophrenia by taking a look at the articles below:
Learn even more about schizophrenia from other credible organizations, such as:
2. Encourage someone to get treatment
A person with schizophrenia may be unaware they need professional help, not know how to get it, or be physically unable to get to places that offer help.
To find a local facility that offers special care for people with mental health conditions such as schizophrenia, use the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA’s) Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator.
For people experiencing their first symptoms or episode of a mental health condition, the SAMHSA’s Early Serious Mental Illness Treatment Locator can also identify facilities or providers that may be able to help.
Here is the contact information for the SAMHSA’s National Mental Health Hotline, a completely free, confidential service that operates 24 hours per day year-round in English and Spanish:
To contact the Schizophrenia & Psychosis Action Alliance’s hotline, which operates Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in all time zones, dial 800-493-2094 or email them.
3. Encourage someone to follow their treatment plan
People who receive proper treatment for schizophrenia can often live healthy, rewarding lives. Try to encourage people to be active in and committed to their treatment and recovery plan and remind them of the benefits of doing so.
Provide support if someone is having trouble following their treatment plan, such as offering to:
- Help get them to appointments.
- Remind them when to take medications or help them take them.
- Help get prescriptions filled or get tools for therapy, rehab programs, etc.
- Do healthy or stress-relieving activities with them, such as exercising.
- Help them buy healthy foods or make balanced meals.
Depending on your relationship, it can also be helpful to ask someone to share the details of their treatment plan or accompany them to appointments. This can make it easier to identify ways to help them follow treatment or recognize when they are having a hard time doing so.
4. Listen to them and validate their views or feelings
The hallucinations and delusions of schizophrenia can be terrifying, confusing, and isolating, and they can seem very real.
It can be helpful to ask someone with schizophrenia to explain what they are experiencing and how it is making them feel. Validating their feelings may help them feel less scared, confused, and anxious.
5. Ask how to help
The best way to help someone is to ask them what they need. In many cases, what is causing someone with schizophrenia distress or trouble may not be obvious. Actions that might be helpful will depend on the individual person and what exactly they are experiencing.
If someone does not want help, remember to respect their wishes. Also, be sure not to try to do everything for someone, as this may reduce their feelings of autonomy and independence.
6. Know the early warning signs of schizophrenia
Learning about the early signs of schizophrenia can help people identify when someone may be developing the condition before symptoms become severe.
Helping someone receive proper, prompt treatment during early psychosis can improve outcomes.
Early warning signs associated with schizophrenia include:
- reduced self-care or hygiene
- a sudden or severe drop in job performance or grades
- problems thinking clearly or concentrating
- new uneasiness with or suspicion of others
- isolating themselves or spending a lot more time alone than usual
- odd, bizarre, or strong, inappropriate emotions
- appearing emotionally “flat” or “blank” and not showing feelings or emotions at all
- reacting or responding to things that do not seem real
7. Stay connected
People with schizophrenia and other mental health conditions may isolate themselves, but research shows that having a strong social support system can positively affect mental health.
Make sure to stay in touch with loved ones or friends with schizophrenia, even if it is just to say “hello” or to pass along something funny or interesting. Beyond in-person interactions, emails, text messages, and video calls are great ways to stay in touch.
Continue to include or offer to include someone in your plans without pressing too hard, even if they continuously resist invitations or agree to something and then do not attend.
8. Help them make a crisis plan
For people with mental health conditions, having a crisis plan on hand can make managing unexpected events easier.
Ask someone whether they have a crisis plan and, if so, whether they would be willing to talk about it or share a copy of it. Store crisis plans somewhere easy to access, like your smartphone, glove compartment, wallet, or bedside table.
If someone does not have a crisis plan prepared, help them make one. A good crisis plan should include:
- phone numbers of family members and friends who are able to help
- phone numbers of their therapist, psychiatrist, and other healthcare professionals
- contact information for the nearest crisis or mental health care facility
- a list of current medications and diagnoses
- triggers
- methods that have helped previously
- history of psychosis, self-harm, drug use, or suicide attempts
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) also has a crisis guide available.
If someone is experiencing a mental health crisis, call 911 or take them to the nearest emergency room.
If someone is suicidal or threatening to harm themselves, seek emergency care or call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988.
Help is out there
If you or someone you know is in crisis and considering suicide or self-harm, please seek support:
- Call or text the 988 Lifeline at 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. Caring counselors are available to listen and provide free and confidential support 24/7.
- Text HOME to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 to connect with a volunteer crisis counselor for free and confidential support 24/7.
- Not in the United States? Find a helpline in your country with Befrienders Worldwide.
- Call 911 or your local emergency services number if you feel safe to do so.
If you’re calling on behalf of someone else, stay with them until help arrives. You may remove weapons or substances that can cause harm if you can do so safely.
If you’re not in the same household, stay on the phone with them until help arrives.
9. Join a support group
Trying to help someone with a mental health condition can be overwhelming. Joining a family support group can help provide a loved one the opportunity to:
- share their experiences and feelings in a safe environment
- develop supportive relationships with other people who understand what they are going through
- learn from other’s experiences and gain new coping skills
- learn how to forgive themselves or reject feelings of guilt
- learn how to be less judgmental of others’ feelings or pain
- accept their limitations and understand that no one can solve every problem
- gain a sense of community
NAMI offers family support programs that are free, confidential, and led by family members or a loved one of people with mental health conditions such as schizophrenia. Find a local NAMI family support group here, or contact a local NAMI affiliate to start your own.
10. Do not be afraid to talk about it
Many people feel uncomfortable talking about mental health issues. Being open about mental health can allow more honest conversations that encourage stronger support systems and allow people to share how they feel and what they are experiencing.
When approaching a conversation about someone’s mental health, make sure to first ask whether they are comfortable talking about it. Also, express that you care and are there for them.
Make sure to use “I” statements instead of “you” statements. For example, instead of saying, “You should get help,” say, “I would feel much better if you considered getting help.”
If
It can be hard to know exactly how to help people with schizophrenia, but it can be equally difficult to know what not to do.
Some common things to avoid include:
- making someone feel ashamed or guilty about their condition or how they treat it
- telling someone or suggesting that someone has to act or feel a certain way
- telling someone how much their behavior or actions are harming others
- making judgments about someone’s behaviors or feelings
- using stigmatizing language such as the word “crazy”
- trying to convince someone their hallucinations or delusions are not real
- talking about someone’s experiences in a way that diminishes or belittles them
- setting unrealistic goals for someone or holding them to unrealistic standards
- talking about someone as if they are not present, even if they seem out of touch with reality
- telling someone that everyone has challenges, or goes through a rough time, or that most people just get over things and learn to live with it
- failing to notice when things are going well or when someone has made progress
- asking someone whether they are taking medications or are still undergoing therapy
- reminding someone they will require medication and monitoring their entire life
If someone refuses to treat a mental health condition, do not shut them out, make them feel guilty, or try to force them to get help or treatment.
Instead, offer encouragement. This can include reminding them that there are many ways to get help and that there are plenty of people who support them. You can also reassure them that people who seek and follow treatment options can often live healthy lives.
In extreme cases, such as if someone refuses treatment and is suicidal or causing danger to themselves or others, a court can grant another person the right to make decisions for them through a conservatorship.
Untreated schizophrenia
- attempt suicide or die by suicide
- experience
reduced cognitive abilitiesTrusted Source - engage in behaviors or activities that put themselves or others at risk of harm
- be incarcerated without reason, or have interactions with the police
- experience trouble maintaining relationships or employment
- experience a less favorable quality of life
- become homeless
- develop substance misuse disorder
- develop a lower life expectancy by up to 28.5 years
Support from family and friends
With effective treatment and support, many people with schizophrenia are still able to enjoy fulfilling lives.
As with most medical conditions, the outcome is typically better the sooner someone seeks and receives proper treatment. Additionally, other people in a person’s life may be able to help. People with schizophrenia who have strong social support systems tend to
