Unfortunately, treatment of schizophrenia and psychosis the past meant banishing individuals with these disorders to institutions or psychiatric wards that were often undignified and ill-equipped to treat these and other mental health issues. Today, rather than sending these patients away from their families, doctors and therapists often aim to include the families of the patient in plans for treatment and support.
Doctors who treat these serious mental disorders say that the family actively playing a role in diagnosis, treatment, and recovery is crucial for patient success.
According to an article by Dr. Michael T. Compton, “family members commonly provide far-reaching and sustained psychosocial support—emotional and tangible assistance—during the early course and throughout the long-term trajectory of such disorders.”
After the initial signs of schizophrenia or psychosis, family members are often the catalyst in encouraging their loved one to seek help in coping with their illnesses. This is especially noteworthy in patients who suffer from psychosis, hallucinations or delusions as these and other symptoms can alter a person’s view of reality, making it difficult or impossible to know that something is wrong. Family members and close friends, who know the person better than anyone, are usually the first to detect a possible symptom of a mental health issue.
Once a diagnosis is made, it is often a parent, guardian, or sibling who helps the patient keep track of doctor appointments, medication doses, and other critical elements of treatment. Without this support and guidance coming from loved ones, patients can easily fall into worsening symptoms due to missing medication doses, skipping appointments, and not taking care of their physical and mental wellbeing.
Supporting loved ones with mental illness can take a toll on family members in friends, who should find their own support system through therapy and group meetings. Unless you are taking care of yourself, you cannot make your best effort in taking care of your loved one.
Whether or not you have a family support system, we are here to help you in the processes of schizophrenia diagnosis, treatment, and recovery. Let us come alongside you. No one fights alone.