8 Ways To Support Someone With Schizophrenia

Supporting a loved one with schizophrenia can be both rewarding and challenging. Your encouragement, patience, and understanding have the power to make a meaningful impact on their well-being and recovery. Even small acts of support can help them feel less alone.

Schizophrenia is a complex mental health condition that affects how a person feels, thinks, and acts. While symptoms of schizophrenia vary from person to person, support from loved ones can be a powerful foundation for promoting stability, building trust, and reducing stigma. In this article, we’ll share eight practical and compassionate ways to support someone living with schizophrenia.

1. Communicate With Kindness and Respect

People with schizophrenia may experience episodes of psychosis, where they have delusions and hallucinations that feel very real to them. Delusions are false beliefs that feel true to the person, even when they’re not based on fact. Hallucinations are when someone sees, hears, or feels things that aren’t really there. The most common type of hallucination is hearing voices that aren’t actually there.

Instead of arguing or trying to convince them otherwise, focus on understanding how they feel. Then, gently redirect them to a self-care activity or hobby they enjoy.

As occupational therapist Naomi Frisch explained, “It’s never about challenging someone’s psychosis or whatever reality disorientation they have. It’s really about meeting them and trying to strengthen the parts of them that are connected to reality and help shift their attention away from the things that are disorienting them or keeping them disoriented.”

You could try saying things like, “That sounds really scary, how can I help?” or “I’m here with you when you’re ready to talk about it,” to show support. Stay calm and try to shift their attention elsewhere to activities that engage in self-care or a hobby they enjoy.

2. Offer a Hand With Daily Tasks

Managing appointments, medications, and daily routines can feel overwhelming, especially during or after an episode when symptoms get worse.

Dr. Robert Channon, a retired psychiatrist, shared, “Someone with schizophrenia may be too disorganized to know that they have an appointment at the clinic at two o’clock on Tuesday. They may not know what day of the week it is. So in other words, even the mental disorder will affect their ability to problem solve, to organize their life, to know that they have to make sure they have enough bus fare to get on the bus to get to the clinic, and that they remember where the clinic is and that they have a watch that works.”

Helping out with reminders and rides to appointments can be very helpful. Dr. Channon also added, “A pill box comes in handy, where you put in a pill for Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and so on. So if someone’s not sure if they took their medicine on time, a pill box can be useful.”

3. Create a Safety Plan Together

Episodes of illness can sometimes lead to confusion or risky behavior. Having a safety plan ready can help everyone feel more prepared. A good care plan might include:

• Early warning signs of an episode, like sleeping less or increased anxiety
• A list of trusted people to contact, with their phone numbers
• Preferred healthcare providers
• Steps to take if the person becomes confused or very upset

Make sure you create the plan together. This can help encourage a sense of independence. Try to keep the plan as up-to-date as possible, especially if medications or other information changes. Save the plan in an easy-to-reference place, such as a phone screen saver or refrigerator door.

4. Be Consistent and Reliable

Building trust with the person you’re supporting is important. Once you establish a trusting relationship, it’s easier to feel supported and communicate your needs.

Consistency can build trust. Whether it’s showing up when you say you will, sticking to routines, or simply checking in regularly, being dependable can help someone feel more secure. Even small things, like having coffee together every morning, can provide a sense of stability.

5. Understand That Symptoms Vary

Not everyone with schizophrenia experiences the same symptoms. Symptoms can vary from hearing voices or having unusual beliefs, which are called positive symptoms, to struggling with motivation or social withdrawal, also known as negative symptoms. “The negative symptoms are the ones that medications in the past have not been very effective in managing … like your loss of motivation, your comfort in being with people,” Dr. Channon said.

Don’t assume you know what someone else is going through. Have a conversation with them to ask how they’re feeling and how you can support them. Learning more about their symptoms can help you figure out how you can best support them. For instance, if they’re struggling with motivation, you might make an effort to invite them along to run errands or go on a walk.

If your loved ones' symptoms are severe and making it difficult to communicate, try talking to them in a calm manner and in short sentences. Avoid making any judgments about their experiences and feelings.

6. Fight the Stigma

Stigma, or feelings of shame and misunderstanding, can be one of the biggest barriers to recovery. Unlike people with physical illnesses, those with mental illnesses often worry about shame. You can play a role in reducing the stigma by using respectful language and avoiding labels to describe the individual with schizophrenia. If you can, gently correct misinformation when you hear it and encourage open, honest conversations about mental health.

7. Encourage Support Groups

Support groups can be powerful for both people with schizophrenia and their caregivers. They offer a space to share experiences, learn from others, and feel less alone.

Whether it’s a peer support group or an education program dedicated to family members, connecting with others can reduce isolation and build resilience. You may want to try a few different support groups until you find the right one to fit your needs.

Your loved one’s healthcare team might be able to provide you with a few suggestions available in your local community. You can also research what’s offered near you through organizations like National Alliance on Mental Illness and the Schizophrenia & Psychosis Action Alliance.

8. Be Patient With Medication and Treatment

Medication can be a key part of managing schizophrenia, but it’s not always easy. Side effects, stigma, and lack of insight into the illness can all affect whether someone sticks with their treatment plan.

“For some people, they intentionally stopped taking their medicine because they were bothered by the side effects, or they’re sick and tired of taking the medicine because they’re ‘not sick,’” Dr. Channon said. “In my experience, for most people, they sort of accidentally stop the medicine. One thing led to another, and they really weren’t convinced it was working, and they seemed to be doing OK without it. So they just let those couple days go on and on and on and on. They didn’t intend to stop the medicine.”

You can support your loved one by providing reminders and encouraging them to stay consistent with their medication and treatment options. If the person is open to it, you might also want to help track symptoms or side effects to share with their care team.

The Importance of Strong Support

Supporting someone with schizophrenia is not about fixing them, it’s about providing them with empathy, respect, and patience. Remember, everyone’s experience is different, but every act of support, no matter how small, can make a difference in improving their quality of life.

If you’re a caregiver, remember to care for yourself, too. This journey can be emotionally complex, and you deserve support as well.

Talk With Those Who Understand

On MySchizophreniaTeam, the site for those with schizophrenia and their loved ones, individuals come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with schizophrenia.

How do you show support for your loved one with schizophrenia? What tips do you have for others supporting someone with schizophrenia? Share your experience in the comments below.