This document lists the information that families need regarding all facets of schizophrenia and psychosis.
British Columbia Schizophrenia Society
A Reason to Hope. The Means to Cope.
New Antipsychotic Review: ZELDOX (ziprasidone hydrochloride) - By Dr. Richard Williams... More →BCSS Branches - A BCSS Branch is a community based association of people who volunteer their time and energy to help improve the lives of people with serious mental illness and their families. - For more information on how to connect with a branch in your region, please contact provincial office at: (lower mainland): 604.270.7841 Toll Free: 1.888.888.0029 or Email Us... More →
Family Toolkit - The Family Toolkit is designed to assist families in caring for a family member with a mental illness by providing information and practical resources.... More →
Hospital Discharge Checklist - How to plan for when your ill family member is released from hospital.... More →
Guide to the Mental Health Act - This resource may be useful to people who would like to understand the rules and procedures in place in BC around mental illness, police involvement, involuntary treatment, etc... More →
Strengthening Families Together - 10 session group for family and friends - Do you have a relative or friend with a serious mental illness? Strengthening Families Together is a 10-session group for families and friends, which provides information, skill-building, and support.... More →
Spouses Handbook - This booklet was published due to requests from family members who have a spouse ill with schizophrenia, for information specific to their needs.... More →
Benefits of 'Extended Leave' - Provisions for Extended Leave exist under the BC Mental Health Act. These provisions are used regularly and... More →
Schizophrenia / Psychosis Early Warning Signs - This list of warning signs was developed by people whose relatives have schizophrenia or other serious mental... More →
Early Psychosis Online Booklet - An online booklet for family, teachers, and friends that looks at the causes, symptoms and treatments of psychosis.... More →
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Please click on the links below for more information on schizophrenia, psychosis and caring for someone with a mental illness.
Frequently Asked Questions
- I think I know someone who might be ill. What are the signs and symptoms of schizophrenia/psychosis?
- How do I get help for my loved one?
- Where do I get help for my loved one?
- Where can I find printable resources for family members?
Where to Start |
Information by Category or Audience
|
Alphabetical Navigation
For a full list of all resources listed alphabetically click here. The resources below are listed in reverse date order, with most recently added information at top.
Effective Family-Professional Collaboration
A checklist for medical and mental-health professionals
How to Help Recovery from Psychosis – What Family and Friends Need to Know
How to help a loved one when they return home from the hospital.
Common FAQs about schizophrenia
When Your Brother or Sister has Psychosis (Youth Version)
A fact sheet for teen siblings of persons suffering from psychosis.
Family-to-Family Education Program (Replaced by Strengthening Families Together)
This program has been replaced by the Strengthening Families Together program.
The program matches volunteers with persons who are family members of persons with a serious and persistent mental illness. The volunteers, who are also family members of a person with a mental illness, provide peer listening and some information during a weekly phone call or visit. The program is now underway in selected regions of BC and is being looked at for implementation as far away as New Zealand.
What’s Going On with Me? – a fact sheet on psychosis
an evidence based fact sheet in pdf format for persons experiencing symptoms.
Fact sheet in pdf format. A good general audience introduction to psychosis.
Psychosis Symptoms and What to Do
This 4 page fact sheet in pdf format gives helpful tips for families and friends on how to handle psychosis symptoms.
Information for persons with mood disorders on psychosis symptoms that sometimes happen.
Information on coping when someone you care about with psychosis is experiencing depression
A fact sheets for new moms and their family and friends.
No Flowers or Chocolates Video – for professionals on collaborating with families in care
A professonal development video for mental health professionals on the topic of collaborating with family caregivers developed by the Bouverie institute.
Cultural Sensitivity Information for Professionals
Cultural sensitivity information for caregivers on understanding cultures which value a high level of family involvement in medical care
The Changing Needs of Family Caregivers
A chart that shows the changes in a family caregiver's needs over time.
Working Collaboratively with Family Caregivers
Materials developed as part of a professional education workshop for mental health providers presented by BCSS in the Fraser Health Region in spring of 2006.
Videos about schizophrenia and psychosis.
This fact sheet looks at the connection between psychosis and the use of Crystal Methamphetamine.
A fact sheet about the connection between cannabis use and psychosis.
A booklet from the Discover the Facts booklet series
Steps For Working With Delusions
Steps for working with delusions.
Some information on working with hallucinations.
How much do you know about schizophrenia?
Test yourself, then check the answers (given at the end of the quiz) to see how you scored.
Schizophrenia is a brain disease caused by biological and chemical changes in the brain. It is an uncommon illness in children and hard to recognize in its early phases.
Questions to Ask the Psychiatrist
A Checklist for Families of Patients with Schizophrenia & Other Serious Mental Illnesses
This document provides basic information on several types of mental illness including schizophrenia, mood disorders, panic disorders and addictions.
Reach Out – Early Psychosis Intervention Video – Short School Version
This video for schools talks about the experience of schizophrenia.
Early Psychosis – Discover the Facts Brochure
A fact sheet on recognizing the warning signs of psychosis.
Advocating for your relative (and yourself) – Dos and Don’ts
Dos and don'ts for families coping with schizophrenia
A fact sheet about disrimination and advocacy.
People with schizophrenia sometimes experience symptoms that are difficult for the individual, friends, family members, professionals and others to deal with. This article offers some helpful suggestions.
Steps Towards Evidence-Based Practice in Supporting Families with Parental Mental Illness
Findings from a focum held December 2004 (pdf format report)
Drugs, Alcohol and Schizophrenia
Mixing drugs or alcohol with an illness like schizophrenia is an alarming new trend. Traveling this risky road has devastating consequences.
This report is based on a set of surveys aimed at assessing the state of service delivery in B.C. and provides a snapshot of Early Psychosis Intervention (EPI) services and programs through 2003 - 2004. It is an important benchmark document for ongoing evaluation of services in British Columbia.
A 2004 booklet for families to explain BC's forensic psychiatry services.
This booklet was published due to requests from family members who have a spouse ill with schizophrenia, for information specific to their needs.
BCSS presents an educational kit for family and friends of people with schizophrenia.
Recommended reading list on schizophrenia.
Early Psychosis Care Guide Summary
A summary of the Early Psychosis Care Guide
A guide for professionals that looks at early psychosis intervention and treatment.
Supporting Families With Parental Mental Illness – A Community Education and Development Manual
The manual "Supporting Families With Parental Mental Illness" contains all the information needed to hold a successful workshop that will inform audiences as to the issues involved in supporting families with parental mental illness.
Information on some of the drugs used to treat psychosis and schizophrenia