As a Listener, how can you help?

Goal

To learn about main ways listeners can help support the recovery of those who suffer from schizophrenia.

How a listener can help people who suffer from schizophrenia?

• Socialization – Many people who suffer from Schizophrenia or other related psychotic disorders are ashamed of their symptoms, and are not so confident in their ability to communicate again and to develop social connections.

  One of the most important steps of rehabilitation is coming back to the community and being able to socialize with other people.

  A listener can help by:

  • Providing reinforcement for chatting! For many people who suffer from schizophrenia, being able to contact someone else is a big step forward.

  • Providing positive and warm environment which strengthen the patient confidence in their ability to socialize and to communicate.

    Being able to chat with a stranger in a warm and positive environment could really help them in gaining the right confidence.

  • Encouraging them about socializing with their family and others.
• Dealing with loneliness – Many people suffer from loneliness, and just being there for them, talking about daily living can help. Important to note that except traditional loneliness another type of this feeling may arise after finding out one suffers from schizophrenia - feeling different all the sudden.
• Encouraging therapeutic activities:
  • Adherence to physician’s recommendations (such as medication).
  • Going to psychotherapy and other medical/therapeutic meetings.
  • Referring to relevant resources (online and offline).
  • Helping them think about their strengths.
• Encouraging daily acts:
  • Getting out of the house.
  • Going to work.
  • Keeping personal hygiene (asking: “did you get up and get dressed today?”).

  • Helping them to find activities to currently do (e.g., encourage walking in a park in a shiny day).

    Remember that many people who suffer from schizophrenia don’t work and therefore, helping them find activities to do could be really helpful.

Don’t provide reinforcements for false beliefs. Sometimes people who suffer from schizophrenia may try to receive feedback about their false beliefs, for example: “My therapist and mother don’t believe me, do you believe me?” Remember that it might be part of the psychosis, and therefore you cannot be the judge. You goal is to support without providing reinforcement to beliefs the people provide.

How to do that?

• Don’t contradict them as it may seem offensive.
• Don’t reinforce the belief.
• You can reflect and state that they seemed to be troubled and that it’s probably difficult when close people who care about you don’t believe you.
• Change the subject by stating that you can’t be the judge of that but you do think that it’s difficult to feel that way.
• You can also change topic by stating that you learn about the importance of people in this person’s life, and ask to tell about connections they have with others.

How to communicate?

This population is characterized by high variation between different people. For example, some people may be very communicative with high functioning in all areas of living while others may have functionality difficulties. However, we have several general recommendations:

• Be proactive. This is the most important remark. Many people may struggle in starting and continuing the conversation. Some people may contact while not providing topics for conversations at all. It is common, someone may find it difficult to find what to talk about, sometimes due to cognitive difficulties, but entering the chat means they want to socialize. In that case you should help them find out topics and even provide topics by your own. The existence of the chat by itself may be very beneficial for the person.
• Communicate in short sentences and low level vocabulary, at least at start.
• Be more sensitive about availability, if you will disappear during the chat some may be offended and to think it was their fault.