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Schizophrenia

Disclaimer:

This publication is based on a Mind UK publication and the original version may be found here: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/a-z-mental-health/

Thank you to Mind UK for sharing their valuable content with us. Content included in Mental Health A-Z is made available free of charge and does not form part of any commercial activity. The adaptation has been done independently by Mind HK and is intended for general information purposes only.

What can friends or family do to help?

This section is for friends and family who want to support someone they know with a diagnosis of schizophrenia.

As a friend, relative or partner, you can have a vital role in helping someone recover and reducing the likelihood of them having a relapse. However, it can be difficult for you to know how to help.

“Lonely, confused, isolated, scared, prejudiced against…[In my experience] that’s how family members feel.”

Most people want to feel cared about and to have someone they can discuss their feelings and options with. In regard to the friend or family member with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, it is very important to avoid either blaming them or saying things like ‘pull yourself together’.

Focus on feelings rather than experiences

It can be difficult for you to know how to respond to someone who sees something or believes something that you do not.

Rather than confirming or denying their experience, it may help if you say something like ‘I accept that you hear voices or see things in that way, but it is not like that for me’. It is usually more constructive if you can focus on how the person is feeling, rather than what they are experiencing.

If someone were to say to you that your experiences are not real, it would just make you feel more alone than ever.

Find out about schizophrenia

This includes learning about the different coping strategies, which your friend or relative might find useful. You may also find it helpful to learn about other people’s experiences by reading personal stories, joining support groups or speaking to others in the same situation as you.

When the person is feeling well, it is useful to discuss how you can be supportive when and if a crisis occurs. In having this conversation, it can be helpful for you to state clearly what you feel you can and cannot deal with.

Ask how you and others can help

Ask the person if they would like practical support. This might include helping them find accommodation or access to particular services. If you are acting on their behalf, it is important that you consult them and do not take over. Alternatively, it may be possible to find an independent advocate to help them.

Help in an emergency

If you think your friend or family member could be at risk of hurting themselves or others, it might be necessary to consider a mental health assessment for them. The nearest relative can request that the person at risk be given a mental health assessment by an approved mental health professional. This assessment involves considering treatment options and deciding whether or not the person should be detained (admitted to hospital).

Referring someone for an assessment can be a difficult decision to make, as it can result in someone being detained in hospital against their will. In this situation, there are no right answers. It can help to make sure you are fully informed about the law and what could happen, and perhaps consider talking to other family members before you take this step.

Get support for yourself

It can be distressing when someone you are close to experiences the symptoms of schizophrenia. It is important to get support in coping with your own feelings, which you may find include anger, guilt, fear or frustration.

 

 

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What is iACT Service?

Improving Access to Community Therapies (iACT®) is one of the services from Mind HK. Trained Wellbeing Practitioners will offer initial assessment and early intervention for people dealing with mild to moderate symptoms of depression, anxiety, or other emotional difficulties.

 

The service includes 6-8 sessions of low-intensity psychological support, the flexibility of the service allows individuals to receive free and timely support when needed.

If you’re aged between 18 – 65 and are facing some emotional challenges, we would like to invite you to take an online assessment for us to gain a better understanding of your current emotional struggle.

 

If you’re eligible, we’ll get you connected with a Wellbeing Practitioner within two weeks to sort out the next steps.

The service runs for about 3 months and includes 6-8 support sessions, tailored to your needs.

 

We encourage you to attend all sessions and actively practice the tips and exercises provided by your Wellbeing Practitioner.

We take your privacy seriously. Your chats with the Wellbeing Practitioner are confidential.

 

We won’t share any of your info unless you’ve provided consent or if there are risks detected.

This programme isn’t suitable for people facing emergencies, major setbacks, or those diagnosed with serious or complex mental health conditions.

 

If you’re having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, this programme might not meet your needs, so please seek help right away. You can check out Mind HK’s “Find Help Now” page for immediate information and services.

Most of our Wellbeing Practitioners have backgrounds in psychology or counselling and are passionate about mental health. They’ve gone through about 140 hours of intensive training and completed at least 120 hours of supervised clinical practice over 9 months to ensure the quality of service.

 

They’re trained by accredited local experts in the mental health field, including clinical psychologists, counselling psychologists, counsellors, and psychiatrists. Plus, we regularly check how effective our services are. All service outputs and performances are subject to consistent monitoring.

Who is suitable for participating in this programme?

This programme welcomes anyone between the ages of 18 and 65 who may be feeling lost or facing emotional difficulties. Please note that this programme is not suitable for individuals diagnosed with severe or complex mental health conditions.

This programme is not suitable for individuals diagnosed with severe or complex mental health conditions, but suitable for those who experience mild to severe moderate anxiety, mild to moderate depression, or other emotional challenges. If you are currently experiencing a major setback or even having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, please visit the “Find Help Now” page on our Mind HK’s website for immediate information and services.

After signing up, our Wellbeing Practitioner will contact you within two weeks to schedule a convenient time for a 45-minute conversation, either via video or phone call, according to your preference. During the conversation, the Wellbeing Practitioner will understand your current situation and help you gain a better understanding of your emotional state based on the questionnaire you filled out during application. Additionally, they will provide recommendations for appropriate community resources based on your needs, helping you take an important first step in taking care of your mental health.

Although the intervention procedure is mostly standardised, Wellbeing Practitioners will work flexibly with clients to address individual presenting problems and unique characteristics.

Our Wellbeing Practitioners are trained to support people who experience mild to moderate mental health difficulties primarily. This programme is not suitable for the situations mentioned above. If you are currently experiencing a major setback or even having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, please visit the “Find Help Now” page on our Mind HK’s website for immediate information and services.

Your conversations with the Wellbeing Practitioner are absolutely confidential. Any information about you will not be shared with anyone without your consent unless you or others are at immediate risk or the Wellbeing Practitioner has reason to believe that you may be in imminent danger.
Supervisors will monitor trainees’ development throughout the placement to ensure that they are meeting the required level of competency to pass the training course at the end of the placement.

Yes, it is necessary to book an appointment in advance by filling out the form. Additionally, you can select one of the five stores yourself. We will allocate clients to different Wellbeing Practitioners based on their chosen location.

Before having the conversation, we will ask you to fill out a basic questionnaire for preliminary screening assessment. This screening process aims to ensure that the training received by the Wellbeing Practitioners is sufficient to meet the needs of the individuals receiving the service. If it is determined after the screening assessment that the service is not suitable for you, Mind HK will provide alternative recommendations to ensure your safety and support.

For adults who are suitable for this service, all Wellbeing Practitioners have received training on how to identify and respond to safety and risk issues. If you have any concerns about the support process, the Wellbeing Practitioners have appropriate measures in place and will develop response plans based on the urgency of the situation. They can also access support from clinical practitioners from Mind HK or participating organisations.

What private training does Mind HK provide?

Mind HK provides 4 themes of mental health training, including: Supporting Self, Supporting Others, Family Wellbeing and DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion).

 

Check out the brochure here for more information.

Mind HK provides a wide range of standardised mental health training, which can be tailored to different circumstances. Chat with our team to explore more! 

Our trainers come from a diverse, accredited pool of clinically experienced professionals. Check out our trainers’ biographies here.

Yes, the Mental Health First Aid class of Mind HK is internationally accredited by the MHFA International. The content and certification is delivered by trainers certified from the Mental Health Association of Hong Kong. You can find out our trainers accreditation here.

We are here to support your mental health education journey! Reach out to us and chat with our team.

For Friends and Family

What can friends or family do to help?

This section is for friends and family who want to support someone they know with a diagnosis of schizophrenia.

As a friend, relative or partner, you can have a vital role in helping someone recover and reducing the likelihood of them having a relapse. However, it can be difficult for you to know how to help.

“Lonely, confused, isolated, scared, prejudiced against…[In my experience] that’s how family members feel.”

Most people want to feel cared about and to have someone they can discuss their feelings and options with. In regard to the friend or family member with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, it is very important to avoid either blaming them or saying things like ‘pull yourself together’.

Focus on feelings rather than experiences

It can be difficult for you to know how to respond to someone who sees something or believes something that you do not.

Rather than confirming or denying their experience, it may help if you say something like ‘I accept that you hear voices or see things in that way, but it is not like that for me’. It is usually more constructive if you can focus on how the person is feeling, rather than what they are experiencing.

If someone were to say to you that your experiences are not real, it would just make you feel more alone than ever.

Find out about schizophrenia

This includes learning about the different coping strategies, which your friend or relative might find useful. You may also find it helpful to learn about other people’s experiences by reading personal stories, joining support groups or speaking to others in the same situation as you.

When the person is feeling well, it is useful to discuss how you can be supportive when and if a crisis occurs. In having this conversation, it can be helpful for you to state clearly what you feel you can and cannot deal with.

Ask how you and others can help

Ask the person if they would like practical support. This might include helping them find accommodation or access to particular services. If you are acting on their behalf, it is important that you consult them and do not take over. Alternatively, it may be possible to find an independent advocate to help them.

Help in an emergency

If you think your friend or family member could be at risk of hurting themselves or others, it might be necessary to consider a mental health assessment for them. The nearest relative can request that the person at risk be given a mental health assessment by an approved mental health professional. This assessment involves considering treatment options and deciding whether or not the person should be detained (admitted to hospital).

Referring someone for an assessment can be a difficult decision to make, as it can result in someone being detained in hospital against their will. In this situation, there are no right answers. It can help to make sure you are fully informed about the law and what could happen, and perhaps consider talking to other family members before you take this step.

Get support for yourself

It can be distressing when someone you are close to experiences the symptoms of schizophrenia. It is important to get support in coping with your own feelings, which you may find include anger, guilt, fear or frustration.