These sites are maybe helpful especially for family members, many sites use the word schizophrenia, but this word can be replaced by psychosis, see our Introduction to Psychosis section
Schizophrenia in the Family
Amanda Tetrault's father Phil is a poet who was stricken with schizophrenia at the age of 21. Like many suffering from the illness, Phil does not believe he is ill, and has never accepted treatment, spending most of his life living on the streets. However, no matter how estranged Phil became, Amanda and her mother never abandoned him. An accomplished photographer, Amanda turned her lens on her father in order to get a better understanding of their relationship, and better insight into Phil's life. In 2004, she published the acclaimed book ,Phil and Me,, which explored her relationship with Phil through the lens of her photography and his poetry.
Leonard Cohen once said, during one of Phil's more lucid periods, that he was one of Canada's best kept secrets. Cohen and Phil remain friends and share a special bond to this day. This is the story of one daughter's compassion for her father, and for all the untreated victims of mental illness.
Understanding Psychosis
Real life experiences of young people and their families on psychosis.
Psychosis
This short film about psychosis was produced by service users and staff from GMW’s Early intervention Service in collaboration with a local filmmaker. The aim of the film is to raise awareness, reduce stigma and encourage people to seek help early. You can also help with these aims by sharing the film ’psychosisfilm’.
Early Intervention in Schizophrenia
What You and Your Family Should know. The 32 minute video covers the common questions that families have when a person is showing early signs of psychosis or schizophrenia and they begin treatment at an early treatment center. Additionally, a young man describes the first symptoms that he experienced when he began to experience psychosis. This video was produced in 2004 by the Maine Medical Center PIER program
Supporting someone who has experienced psychosis
The UK Mental Healthcare Website includes suggestions for supporting someone who has experienced psychosis because of a mental illness like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, including how to cope with behavior that you might find difficult.
Much of the information is based on a book called 'Living with Mental Illness, A book for relatives and friends', by Elizabeth Kuipers and Paul Bebbington. Professor Kuipers is a researcher and clinical psychologist who works at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London. She led the development of mentalhealthcare as a website primarily for family members and friends of people who have experienced psychosis.
A very complete page from EASA about what families and friends can do to help.
Recommended book by EASA I’m not sick, I don’t need help
Support for family members and other unpaid carers themselves
Rethink Mental Illness was established by carers and our aim is to give them, and those they care for, a voice in every aspect of mental health provision. We believe that carers play an invaluable role in helping people recover from severe mental illness and that they should be acknowledged, valued and supported. As the largest national voluntary sector provider of mental health services we know that caring for someone with mental illness is challenging. Mental illness is a fluctuating condition, often misunderstood and stigmatised, causing considerable emotional distress to carers.See also
Websites
Resources at the Schizophrenia Website
A page for carers from the Meridan Family Program, with many personal stories and poems
Often all the care goes to ‘’the patient’’ while family members suffer as well, that’s why Meridan Family program has made a page for family members them selves.
