Treatment for schizophrenia is a tough journey for people with the illness but also for caregivers and loved ones. Due to cognitive symptoms, hallucinations, and delusions, a person with schizophrenia may not be able to make decisions on treatment or take care of themselves.When should caregivers step in to legally take control over a person with schizophrenia?What are the types of involuntary treatment?What are the other options available to people with schizophrenia and caregivers?Host Rachel Star Withers, a person with schizophrenia, and co-host Gabe Howard discuss involuntary treatment options in schizophrenia and the moral issues around forcing treatment on a person. Guest Nicole Drapeau Gillen joins the discussion. Nicole was an IT executive and chief marketing officer turned caregiver and the author of “Schizophrenia & Related Disorders: A Handbook for Caregivers.” Nicole recognized that caregivers like herself often find themselves thrust into this challenging, complex, and stressful situation with little guidance on how to help a loved one with a serious mental illness.In this episode, Rachel speaks about psychiatric advance directives. You can find more information at the National Resource Center on Psychiatric Advance Directives at www.NRC-PAD.org.To learn more -- or read the transcript -- please visit the official episode page.Our guest, Nicole Drapeau Gillen, is a caregiver and the author of “Schizophrenia & Related Disorders: A Handbook for Caregivers.”Nicole began her journey as a caregiver in this world of schizophrenia in 2020 when her daughter became sick. After thrashing about for a few years, finding herself frustrated and desperate for information, she wrote the book on caregiving for someone with a serious mental illness.In her book, “Schizophrenia & Related Disorders: A Handbook for Caregivers,” Nicole addresses a myriad of issues caregivers face, including:• From the Beginning of the Journey: Treatment — medication primer, treatment primer, etc.; hospitals, case managers, and more; and doctors (working with, talking to, finding)• Ongoing: Communication, definitions, family and friends; support groups — for yourself and your loved one; and creating your ongoing paper trail• Could Happen Anytime: Housing/homelessness; navigating jail and police; and crisis — suicidal ideation, arrests, run away, etc.• Getting The Right Support Setup: Legal — advanced directives; legal — power of attorney, conservatorship, guardianship; and financial — SSI, SSDI, other government services• Long-term issues: Budgeting — estate planning, trusts and letter of intent; and transition to self support for your loved one• And so much more!As a caregiver, our journey is ever-evolving and fluid. No sooner do we get our loved one on a good path, then things take another twist and turn. This book aims to give you the fundamentals on how to help your loved one no matter where they are on their road to recovery. With clear steps and compassionate insights, you'll find a lifeline in your caregiving journey.https://schizophrenia-caregiver.com/Schizophrenia & Related Disorders: A Handbook for CaregiversRachel Star Withers creates videos documenting her schizophrenia, ways to manage and let others like her know they are not alone and can still live an amazing life. She has written Lil Broken Star: Understanding Schizophrenia for Kids and a tool for schizophrenics, To See in the Dark: Hallucination and Delusion Journal. Fun Fact: She has wrestled alligators. To learn more about Rachel, please visit her website, RachelStarLive.comm. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discussion on the high suicide rates among individuals with schizophrenia, exploring risk factors, coping mechanisms, and the importance of proactive approaches. Personal anecdotes highlight the challenges and complexities of suicidal behavior. Guest Tim shares his journey of overcoming depression through punching bag therapy and traveling in a VW bus to provide free training for communities.

Exploring the challenges of community involvement for individuals with schizophrenia, including making friends and overcoming stigma. Discussing support programs for families and the importance of education in schizophrenia recovery. Raising awareness of schizophrenia prevalence in British Columbia and the benefits of community engagement for recovery.

Schizophrenia and its impact on intrusive, violent thoughts. Strategies for recognizing and managing disturbing thoughts. The challenges of classifying different types of thoughts. An interview with a therapist specializing in severe mental disorders.

This podcast explores the grief and acceptance individuals experience when diagnosed with schizophrenia, emphasizing the importance of embracing both the amazing and terrible moments. It discusses managing symptoms through therapy, medication, and maintaining a positive attitude, while also expressing themselves through poetry as a beneficial outlet. The host highlights Polly's inspiring attitude and story, showing how she defies the negative stereotypes associated with schizophrenia and encourages others to persevere. It explores the importance of balance in discussing schizophrenia, acknowledging both the positives and negatives, and emphasizing the need for hope and support.

Guest Scott Joffrion, father of an adult son with schizoaff, joins hosts Withers and Howard to discuss navigating schizophrenia as a caregiver. They explore challenges faced by caregivers, difficulties in finding mental health services, and the importance of support and self-care.

Explore the troubled history between the LGBTQIA+ community and schizophrenia, including theories about bisexuality and asexuality. Hear from Lucas Silveira, the first openly transgender man signed to a major music label, as he shares his personal story. Learn about personal experiences with schizophrenia and the impact on life, and the challenges faced by transgender individuals with mental disorders. Understand the importance of tailored care and support for the intersection of schizophrenia and the LGBTQ+ community.

The podcast explores the stigma around schizophrenia in the medical community. It discusses the challenges faced by individuals with schizophrenia when seeking mental health treatment and the limited options available. The detrimental impact of misconceptions and the importance of supporting families in need are also discussed. The chapter highlights the need for empathy building, specialized training, and fostering connections to address the stigma against schizophrenia in the medical community.

This podcast explores the early indicators of schizophrenia, focusing on children, teenagers, and adults. It discusses the challenges of identifying these indicators and the importance of closely monitoring behavior. The podcast also highlights the role of biomarkers in diagnosing schizophrenia and developing effective medications. Additionally, it discusses the potential risks and benefits of using data to identify individuals at risk for schizophrenia and emphasizes the need for advocacy and representation. The importance of considering caveats and protective factors in schizophrenia initiatives is also explored.

True crime TV shows, podcasts, and books love to explore the minds of serial killers. To perform such heinous acts a person must be “insane,” “crazy,” and “mentally unstable.” Over time, the “schizophrenic serial killer” became the monster behind many of these crimes. But is it true?Where did the stereotype of serial killers having schizophrenia come from? When was schizophrenia first considered to be a violent mental illness? What's the truth to the myth of the schizophrenic serial killer?In this episode of Inside Schizophrenia, host Rachel Star Withers, a diagnosed schizophrenic, and co-host Gabe Howard track down when schizophrenia first became associated with violence and how the myth grew. They are joined by guest Dr. Ann Wolbert Burgess, a pioneer in the assessment and treatment of victims of trauma and abuse who helped shape the FBI's behavioral analysis methods in her prolific study of the criminal mind.Warning: this episode of Inside Schizophrenia contains graphic content and offensive language about people with schizophrenia that some may find upsetting.To learn more -- or read the transcript -- please visit the official episode page.Guest, Ann Wolbert Burgess, D.N.Sc., APRN, FAAN, is an internationally recognized pioneer in the assessment and treatment of victims of trauma and abuse, and author of A Killer by Design: Murderers, Mindhunters, and My Quest to Decipher the Criminal Mind. She has received numerous honors including the Sigma Theta Tau International Audrey Hepburn Award, the American Nurses’ Association Hildegard Peplau Award, and the Sigma Theta Tau International Episteme Laureate Award. Her courtroom testimony has been described as “groundbreaking,” and she has been called a “nursing pathfinder.”Her research with victims began when she co-founded, with Boston College sociologist Lynda Lytle Holmstrom, one of the first hospital-based crisis counseling programs at Boston City Hospital. She then worked with FBI Academy special agents to study serial offenders, and the links between child abuse, juvenile delinquency, and subsequent perpetration. Her work with Boston College nursing colleague Carol Hartman led to the study of very young victims and the impact of trauma on their growth and development, their families and communities. Her work continues in the study of elder abuse in nursing homes, cyberstalking, and internet sex crimes. She teaches courses in Victimology, Forensic Science, Forensic Mental Health, Case Studies in Forensics and Forensic Science Lab.Host, Rachel Star Withers creates videos documenting her schizophrenia, ways to manage and let others like her know they are not alone and can still live an amazing life. She has written Lil Broken Star: Understanding Schizophrenia for Kids and a tool for schizophrenics, To See in the Dark: Hallucination and Delusion Journal. Fun Fact: She has wrestled alligators.To learn more about Rachel, please visit her website, RachelStarLive.comm.Co-Host, Gabe Howard is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, "Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations," available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from the author.Gabe makes his home in the suburbs of Columbus, Ohio. He lives with his supportive wife, Kendall, and a Miniature Schnauzer dog that he never wanted, but now can’t imagine life without. To learn more about Gabe, please visit his website, gabehoward.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices