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Coping with Psychosis and Schizophrenia: Family Stories of Hope and Recovery

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Coping with Psychosis and Schizophrenia: Family Stories of Hope and Recovery

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A collection of personal accounts to provide family carers with a helpful framework to make sense of their individual experiences and support their own coping and wellbeing.

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Coping with Psychosis and Schizophrenia | Mental health, psychiatry and clinical psychology

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Supporting a relative living with a psychotic disorder can be uniquely challenging when compared to other health conditions, leaving many family carers isolated and struggling with questions: Why us? How do others cope? Is it my fault? How much more can I take? This collection of personal accounts provides family carers with a helpful framework to make sense of their individual experiences and support their own coping and wellbeing. It details the myriad of positives, challenges and life-changing experiences that families encounter following the development of a psychotic illness in a loved one. The authors of these accounts are varied and include the parents, partners, siblings and children of those experiencing psychosis. This book will also serve as an excellent resource for psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses, psychologists, social workers, GPs and students who should find the book relevant both for their own practice and for those families they support.

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Global support for families with psychosis

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Global support for families with psychosis

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A global psychosis support platform, dedicated to providing up-to-date resources about how best to support families around the world.

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Our platform is a collective effort, shaped by the insights of individuals with lived experience, healthcare professionals, and those who understand the unique challenges of caring for someone with psychosis.

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Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at King's College London

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Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at King's College London

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The Institute is one of Europe's largest centres for research and postgraduate education in mental health.

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Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience | King's College London

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We are a world leader for education and research of mental health and neurological conditions

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100 ways to support recovery: A guide for health professionals, 2009. Slade

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100 ways to support recovery: A guide for health professionals, 2009. Slade

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A guide from Rethink Mental Illness called 100 ways to support recovery.

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British Psychological Society: Understanding Psychosis and Schizophrenia

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British Psychological Society: Understanding Psychosis and Schizophrenia

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A report from British Psychological Society explaining why people sometimes hear voices, believe things that others find strange, or appear out of touch with reality, and what can help.

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The National Council for Behavioral Health is the unifying voice of America's mental health and addictions treatment organisations. The link provides some information about first episode in psychosis in USA from the NCBH.

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Early Intervention Treatments for Psychosis

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The National Council for Mental Wellbeing is launching the Mental Health First Aid First Episode Psychosis Community of Practice to facilitate earlier interventions and improve outcomes for First Episode Psychosis (FEP).

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Looking after your health during COVID-19: A guide for people living with severe mental illness

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Looking after your health during COVID-19: A guide for people living with severe mental illness

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Downloadable short guide, designed by groups in the UK, for people with severe mental illnesses on practical ways to protect and support physical health during COVID-19.

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Relatives Education and Coping Toolkit for psychosis and bipolar disorder

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Relatives Education and Coping Toolkit for psychosis and bipolar disorder

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Online self-help toolkit for relatives of people with lived experiences of psychosis and bipolar disorder.

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Support groups and education for family and friends of the mentally ill, as well as those affected by it.

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AMI-Quebec helps families manage the effects of mental illness through support, education, guidance, and advocacy. Our programs are free!

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A leading charity in Wales for people with severe mental health problems and carers. It offers different types of support and services.

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Adferiad combines the skills and expertise of its founding charities to provide outstanding services for people in Wales with a wide range of needs.

Find out how we can support you

How we do things - The Adferiad Way.

We've been doing this for a long time, and are experts in our fields. Click below and let us tell you our story

About us

Click here to see all the good work we are doing across the country.

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A collection of resources pooled from our collective expertise in mental health, substance use and other support needs.

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A collection of personal, impactful stories from those we have supported over the years

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Latest News

Keep up to date with all we are doing

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Your help can make sure we are there to support people when they need us and for as long as they need us. See below for information on the many ways you can get involved:

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Adferiad Mental Health and Addiction Support Services

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Adferiad provides a range of services for people in Wales with mental health problems, substance misuse and co-occurring complex needs.

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A TED Talk on personal experience of hearing voices by research psychologist Eleanor Longden.

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To all appearances, Eleanor Longden was just like every other student, heading to college full of promise and without a care in the world. That was until the voices in her head started talking. Initially innocuous, these internal narrators became increasingly antagonistic and dictatorial, turning her life into a living nightmare. Diagnosed with schizophrenia, hospitalized, drugged, Longden was discarded by a system that didn’t know how to help her. Longden tells the moving tale of her years-long journey back to mental health, and makes the case that it was through learning to listen to her voices that she was able to survive.

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A film about the compassionate approach to relating with voices, with potential for use as a therapeutic, educational, and de-stigmatising tool.

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Compassion for Voices: a tale of courage and hope

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A collective of organisations supporting mental health carers.

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We provide quality support and education services to people with mental health support needs, their families and carers.

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European wide non-profit organisation committed to improving the care and welfare of people affected by mental health problems.

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European Federation of Associations of Families of People with Mental Illness

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A UK-based information resource for people who hear voices and those who support them.

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Welcome to the English Hearing Voices Network website. We are one of many similar networks around the world. If you’re looking for support in your own country check out Intervoice’s National Network list. The USA network can be found here: HVN USA

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Charity improving the lives of those with mental health problems or learning disabilities.

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Mental Health Foundation | Good mental health for all

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Explore information to help you understand mental health and get advice on how you look after your own mental health or support someone you know with theirs.

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Mental health charity offering help and advice to individuals experiencing mental health difficulties and their families and loved ones.

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We’re Mind, the mental health charity | Mind

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We're Mind, the mental health charity. We're here to make sure no one has to face a mental health problem alone.

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A large grassroots mental health organisation focused on building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness.

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This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data.

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A free online resource that offers unbiased summaries of the latest health and social care research.

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Ready to start your free trial?

1. 1 Keep up to date with the latest health and social care research

2. 2 Connect with experts and colleagues in your field of interest

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Keep up to date with the latest health and social care research

We search thousands of sources to find new evidence-based research

You receive bespoke email alerts of the evidence that matters most to you

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Join evidence-based journal clubs and interactive webinars

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Track your learning and contribute to your professional development

Create reflective practice notes to support your CPD/CME

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CPD online | Latest health and social care research

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The largest health website in the UK.

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Psychosis is when people lose some contact with reality. This might involve seeing or hearing things that other people cannot see or hear (hallucinations) and believing things that are not actually true (delusions).

Symptoms of psychosis

The 2 main symptoms of psychosis are:

hallucinations - where a person hears, sees and, in some cases, feels, smells or tastes things that do not exist outside their mind but can feel very real to the person affected by them; a common hallucination is hearing voices

delusions - where a person has strong beliefs that are not shared by others; a common delusion is someone believing there's a conspiracy to harm them

The combination of hallucinations and delusional thinking can cause severe distress and a change in behaviour.

Experiencing the symptoms of psychosis is often referred to as having a psychotic episode.

When to get medical advice

You should see a GP immediately if you're experiencing symptoms of psychosis.

It's important psychosis is treated as soon as possible, as early treatment can be more effective.

The GP may ask you some questions to help determine what's causing your psychosis.

They should also refer you to a mental health specialist for further assessment and treatment.
Find out more about diagnosing psychosis

Getting help for others

If you're concerned about someone you know, you could contact a GP for them.

If they're receiving support from a mental health service, you could contact their mental health worker.

If you think the person's symptoms are severe enough to require urgent treatment and could be placing them at possible risk, you can:

A number of mental health helplines are also available that can offer expert advice.
Find out more about how to get help for others

Causes of psychosis

It's sometimes possible to identify the cause of psychosis as a specific mental health condition, such as:

schizophrenia - a condition that causes a range of psychological symptoms, including hallucinations and delusions

bipolar disorder - a mental health condition that affects mood; a person with bipolar disorder can have episodes of low mood (depression) and highs or elated mood (mania)

severe depression - some people with depression also have symptoms of psychosis when they're very depressed

Psychosis can also be triggered by:

How often a psychotic episode occurs and how long it lasts can depend on the underlying cause.

Treating psychosis

Treatment for psychosis involves using a combination of:

antipsychotic medicine - which can help relieve the symptoms of psychosis

talking therapies - the 1-to-1 talking therapy cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) has proved successful in helping people with psychosis, and family interventions (a form of therapy that may involve partners, family members and close friends) have been shown to reduce the need for hospital treatment in people with psychosis

social support - support with social needs, such as education, employment or accommodation

Some people are recommended to take antipsychotics on a long-term basis (and possibly for the rest of their lives). Other people may be able to gradually reduce their dosage and then stop taking them altogether if there is a marked improvement in symptoms.

Do not stop suddenly taking any prescribed medicines as this could trigger a relapse of your symptoms.

If a person's psychotic episodes are severe, they may need to be admitted to a psychiatric hospital for treatment.

Annual health checks

If you have a severe mental illness, you can have a physical check-up at your GP surgery once a year. These can make a big difference to your health and wellbeing.
Find out more about annual health checks for people with severe mental health conditions

Complications of psychosis

People with a history of psychosis are more likely than others to have drug or alcohol misuse problems, or both.

Some people use these substances as a way of managing psychotic symptoms.

But substance abuse can make psychotic symptoms worse or cause other problems.

Self-harm and suicide

People with psychosis have a higher than average risk of self-harm and suicide.

See a GP if you're self-harming.

You can also call the Samaritans, free of charge, on 116 123 for support.

The mental health charity Mind also has some useful information and advice.

If you think a friend or relative is self-harming, look out for signs of unexplained cuts, bruises or cigarette burns, usually on the wrists, arms, thighs and chest.

People who self-harm may keep themselves covered up at all times, even in hot weather.

Read more about:

If you're feeling suicidal, you can:

call the Samaritans support service on 116 123

go to your nearest A&E and tell the staff how you're feeling

contact NHS 111

speak to a friend, family member or someone you trust

make an urgent appointment to see a GP or your psychiatrist or care team

Read more about warning signs of suicide

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Psychosis is when people lose some contact with reality. This might involve seeing or hearing things that other people cannot see or hear (hallucinations) and believing things that are not actually true (delusions).

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The NHS Choices website includes a section that outlines the rights of young carers.

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Being a young carer: your rights - Social care and support guide

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If you are 18 or under and you care for someone you are entitled to help and support.

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A website about the work of the recovery research team at the Institute of Mental Health, University of Nottingham.

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A mental health charity which provides information and advice on different aspects of mental health.

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We improve the lives of people severely affected by mental illness through our network of local groups and services, expert information and successful campaigning. Our goal is to make sure everyone severely affected by mental illness has a good quality of life.

Get advice and information

About mental illness

1 in 4 people will experience a mental illness in their lifetime. People can, and often do, recover with the right treatment and support. Our advice and information pages can help you learn more about conditions, symptoms and diagnoses, so you or a loved one can get the help you need.

Living with mental illness

Living with a mental illness should not be a barrier to a good quality of life. Our advice and information pages contain all you need to know about getting the proper treatment and support for you or a loved one and what you can do if you feel the help you are getting is not right.

Rights and restrictions

If you experience mental illness or care for someone who does, it is essential to know your rights. Our information pages has advice on mental health laws, rights and restrictions, social care, welfare, and resources about the police, courts & prison service.

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No matter how bad things are, we can help.

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1 in 4 people will be affected by a mental health problem in their lifetime - we are here to support them when they do.

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Registered charity offering free, confidential support.

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We offer a safe place for you to talk any time you like, in your own way - about whatever's getting to you. We can also help support your workplace in promoting good emotional health practices.

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Mental health charity offering help and advice to individuals experiencing mental health difficulties and their families.

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Flagship of hope - SANE research centre

The Prince of Wales International Centre for SANE Research is to be a hub for a major international programme investigating the use of cannabidiol (CBD) to treat people with psychosis and schizophrenia.

The study is made possible thanks to a £16.5 million grant from the Wellcome Trust to the University of Oxford.

Global study into schizophrenia and psychosis at SANE research centre

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SANE: Meeting the challenge of mental illness. No-one affected by mental illness should face crisis, distress or despair alone.

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A national mental health charity helping all Australians affected by mental health problems.

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SANE Australia, the National Mental Health Charity

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The Scottish Recovery Network (SRN) was formally launched in 2004 as an initiative designed to raise awareness of recovery from mental health problems. SRN developed out of a loose affiliation of individuals and organisations with a common interest in recovery, and has been designed to share information and ideas as quickly as possible.

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We bring people, services and organisations across sectors together to create a mental health system that embraces peer support and is powered by lived experience.

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A UK national charity that runs different projects to help children and young people in need.

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That's why we fight for the hope and happiness of young people when it's threatened by abuse, exploitation and neglect. We see the hope and courage in young people every day, and it inspires us to support them through their most serious life challenges.

Now we're stepping up the fight for hope and happiness at a time when it's under threat like never before. Together we can #ProtectEveryChildhood and achieve long-lasting change for this generation and the ones to come.

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We fight for the hope and happiness of young people when it's threatened by abuse, exploitation and neglect.

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The Royal College of Psychiatrists website has tailored information for service users, carers, mental health professionals on a range of mental health conditions and in different languages.

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If you are in crisis and have hurt yourself or are thinking about hurting yourself:

call 999

go to A&E if you are able to

call your mental health crisis team

If the support you need is less urgent, you can also speak to your GP or mental health team.

You can also contact the following organisations if you need to speak to someone:

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Mental health | Royal College of Psychiatrists

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Mental health information for patients and carers, with a special section for young people and parents.

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Digital health interventions to support family caregivers: An updated systematic review

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Digital health interventions to support family caregivers: An updated systematic review

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This article reviews how digital tools can help family carers by improving their mental health, caregiving skills, and overall well-being, while also suggesting ways to make these tools more accessible and supportive for all carers.

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Digital health interventions to support family caregivers: An updated systematic review - Shumenghui Zhai, Frances Chu, Minghui Tan, Nai-Ching Chi, Teresa Ward, Weichao Yuwen, 2023

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Objective Chronic diseases are the leading causes of death and disability in the U.S., and disease management largely falls onto patients’ family caregivers. Th…