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NHS Choices - Living with schizophrenia
(13/03/2015)
Healthy living
Keep healthy
As well as monitoring your mental health, your healthcare team and GP should monitor your physical health.
A healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet with lots of fruits and vegetables and regular exercise, is good for you and can reduce your risk of developing cardiovascular disease or diabetes. You should also try to avoid too much stress and get a proper amount of sleep.
You should have a check-up with your GP at least once a year to monitor your risk of developing cardiovascular disease or diabetes. This will include recording your weight, checking your blood pressure, and any appropriate blood tests.
Stop smoking
Rates of smoking in people with schizophrenia are three times higher than in the general population. If you are a smoker, you are at a higher risk of developing cancer, heart disease and stroke.
Stopping smoking has clear physical health benefits but it has also been shown to improve the mental health of people with schizophrenia.
Read how stopping smoking can improve your mental health.
Research has shown you are up to four times more likely to quit smoking if you use NHS support as well as stop-smoking medicines, such as patches, gum or inhalators. Ask your doctor about this or go to the NHS Smokefree website.
If you take antipsychotic medicines and want to stop smoking it's very important that you talk to your GP and/or psychiatrist before you stop as the dosage of your prescription drugs may need to be monitored and the amount you have to take could be reduced.
Want to know more?
- Healthy eating
- Rethink Mental Illness: wellbeing and physical health
- Royal College of Psychiatrists: smoking and mental health
Who is available to help me?
In the course of your treatment for schizophrenia, you will be involved with many different services. Some are accessed through referral from your GP, others through your local authority. These services may include the following:
- community mental health teams (CMHTs) – these provide the main part of local specialist mental health services, and offer assessment, treatment and social care to people living with schizophrenia and other mental illnesses
- trained peer support – this involves the support of someone who has had schizophrenia themselves and is now stable, and may be available through your CMHT
- early intervention teams – these provide early identification and treatment for people with the first symptoms of psychosis; your GP may be able to refer you directly to an early intervention team
- crisis services – specialist mental health teams that help with crises that occur outside normal office hours and allow people to be treated at home for an acute episode of illness instead of in hospital
- acute day hospitals – an alternative to inpatient care in a hospital, where you can visit every day or as often as necessary
- assertive outreach teams – deliver intensive treatment and rehabilitation in the community for people with severe mental health problems and provide rapid help in a crisis situation; staff often visit people at home, act as advocates, liaise with other services (such as your GP or social services), and can also help with practical problems (such as helping to find housing and work), and daily tasks (such as shopping and cooking)
- advocates – trained and experienced workers who help people communicate their needs or wishes, get impartial information, and represent their views to other people; they can be based in your hospital or mental health support groups, or you can find an independent advocate to act on your behalf
Want to know more?
- Mind: Mind in your area
- Rethink Mental Illness: treatment and support
Employment and financial support
Avoid too much stress, including work-related stress. If you are employed, you may be able to work shorter hours or in a more flexible way.
Under the Equality Act 2010, all employers must make reasonable adjustments for people with disabilities, including people diagnosed with schizophrenia or other mental illnesses.
Several organisations provide support, training and advice for people with schizophrenia who wish to continue working.
Your community mental health team is a good first point of contact to find out what services and support are available for you.
Mental health charities such as Mind or Rethink Mental Illness are also an excellent source of information on training and employment.
If you are unable to work as a result of your mental illness, you are entitled to financial support, such as Incapacity Benefit.
Want to know more?
- GOV.UK: disability and the Equality Act 2010
- GOV.UK: Incapacity Benefit
- Money Advice Service
- Rethink Mental Illness: money, debt and benefits
Talk to others
Many people find it helpful to meet other people with the same experiences for mutual support and to share ideas. It is also an important reminder that you are not alone.
Charities and support groups allow individuals and families to share experiences and coping strategies, campaign for better services, and provide support. Useful charities, support groups and associations include:
There are also other places that offer support to people with schizophrenia and other mental illnesses.
Day centres
Even if you do not have a job or are unable to work, it is still important to go out and do everyday things and give a structure to your week.
Many people regularly go to a day hospital, day centre or community mental health centre. These offer a range of activities that allow you to get active again and spend some time in the company of other people.
Work projects
These provide training to help you develop your work skills and support you back into work. They often have contacts with local employers.
Supported accommodation
This could be a bedsit or flat where there is someone around who is trained to support you and help you deal with day-to-day problems.
Peer support
You may be offered the chance to meet regularly with a trained peer support worker who has recovered from psychosis or schizophrenia themselves.
Want to know more?
What can family, friends and partners do to help?
Friends, relatives and partners have a vital role in helping people with schizophrenia recover and make a relapse less likely.
It is very important not to blame the person with schizophrenia or tell them to "pull themselves together", or to blame other people. It is important to stay positive and supportive when dealing with a friend or loved one's mental illness.
As well as supporting the person with schizophrenia, you may want to get support to cope with your own feelings. Several voluntary organisations provide help and support for carers.
Friends and family should try to understand what schizophrenia is, how it affects people, and how they can help. You can provide emotional and practical support, and encourage people to seek appropriate support and treatment.
As part of someone's treatment, you may be offered family therapy. This can provide information and support for the person with schizophrenia and their family.
Friends and family can play a major role by monitoring the person's mental state, watching out for any signs of relapse, and encouraging them to take their medication and attend medical appointments.
If you are the nearest relative of a person who has schizophrenia, you have certain rights that can be used to protect the patient's interests. These include requesting that the local social services authority ask an approved mental health professional to consider whether the person with schizophrenia should be detained in hospital.
Want to know more?
- Caring for someone with mental health problems
- Mind: how to cope as a carer
- Rethink Mental Illness: caring
Depression and suicide
Many people with schizophrenia experience periods of depression. Do not ignore these symptoms. If depression is not treated, it can worsen and lead to suicidal thoughts.
Studies have shown that people with schizophrenia have a higher chance of committing suicide. If you have been feeling particularly down over the last month and no longer take pleasure in the things you used to enjoy, you may be depressed. See your GP for advice and treatment.
Immediately report any suicidal thoughts to your GP or care co-ordinator.
The warning signs of suicide
The warning signs that people with depression and schizophrenia may be considering suicide include:
- making final arrangements – such as giving away possessions, making a will or saying goodbye to friends
- talking about death or suicide – this may be a direct statement such as, "I wish I was dead", or indirect phrases such as, "I think that dead people must be happier than us", or "Wouldn't it be nice to go to sleep and never wake up?"
- self-harm – such as cutting their arms or legs, or burning themselves with cigarettes
- a sudden lifting of mood – this could mean a person has decided to commit suicide and feels better because of their decision
Helping a suicidal friend or relative
If you see any of these warning signs:
- get professional help for the person, such as from a crisis resolution team (CRT) or the duty psychiatrist at your local A&E department
- let them know they are not alone and you care about them
- offer your support in finding other solutions to their problems
If you feel there is an immediate danger of the person committing suicide, stay with them or have someone else stay with them. Remove all available means of suicide, such as sharp objects and medication.
Want to know more?
- Moodzone
- Mind: what to do if you're in crisis
- Rethink Mental Illness: self-harm
- Samaritans
