6 Ways to Help Someone With Schizophrenia (Plus 4 Things to Avoid)

When someone you care about has a mental illness like schizophrenia, it can be incredibly challenging. Schizophrenia causes symptoms such as:

• Hallucinations, where you sense things that aren’t there

• Delusions, which are strong beliefs that aren’t based in reality

• Disorganized or confusing patterns of speaking

• Unusual movements or behavior patterns

• Withdrawal from usual routine (such as self-care)

• Decreased emotional expression

Loving and caring for someone with schizophrenia can be difficult. The illness can affect how the person interacts with you, which can make your relationship challenging at times. 

You may be wondering how to best support someone with schizophrenia and when to seek professional help or emergency care. Understanding schizophrenia, learning healthy ways to communicate, and showing your support can help your loved one thrive.

How can you help someone with schizophrenia?

When a loved one is dealing with schizophrenia, the following actions can be helpful:

1. Learn about schizophrenia

Educating yourself about schizophrenia can help you better understand your loved one and how to support them. Seek out books, articles, or websites that offer accurate information on the condition. 

Good resources include: 

• The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

• The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

• The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) 

You can also ask a mental health provider for suggestions on how to learn more.

2. Support their treatment plan

If your loved one is open to it, consider a family session with their treatment provider. This will help you learn more about their treatment plan and how to support them. Ask how you can be most helpful to your loved one. 

For example, you could:

• Remind your loved to take their medications

• Assist with transportation to appointments

• Help them review what they are learning in therapy 

3. Encourage self-care

Sleep, exercise, and nutrition are important parts of staying healthy. Lack of sleep can be a trigger for schizophrenia symptoms, but healthy eating and exercise can help people manage their symptoms and cope with stress. 

To encourage your loved one to keep up healthy habits, you can: 

• Offer to cook healthy meals for them

• Encourage an early bedtime

• Ask them to join you for a walk

Also be sure to maintain your own self-care. These habits are important for your health, too.

4. Discourage drug and alcohol use

Drug and alcohol misuse can worsen symptoms of schizophrenia and should be avoided. As a family member or friend, avoid drinking or using drugs in front of your loved one. 

If your loved one is struggling with an addiction in addition to schizophrenia, encourage them to attend a treatment program for co-occurring disorders. You can also recommend they attend an addiction support group like Alcoholics Anonymous. 

You may also benefit from attending a group for family members and friends of people dealing with addictions, such as Al-Anon.

5. Help identify warning signs of relapse

Take note of signs that your loved one may be dealing with a relapse of symptoms. This can help you and your loved one know when it may be time to reach out for more support. 

Warning signs can include:

• Feeling threatened or suspicious without evidence there’s danger (paranoia)

• Expressing beliefs that do not make sense

• Seeing or hearing things that are not really there 

When you see your loved one exhibiting these signs, talk to them about your concerns. Also encourage them to talk to their treatment provider. If you are concerned that your loved one may be a danger to themselves or others, seek emergency help (more on this below).

6. Empower their recovery by expressing hope

It is important for your loved one to feel that you have hope and believe in their ability to get better. You can support them in this ways by:

• Celebrating their accomplishments

• Reminding them that you believe in them

• Understanding that setbacks are part of the recovery process

If a relapse happens, it can be helpful to frame it as a learning experience. Focus on what you can all do moving forward. 

What should you not do when talking to someone about schizophrenia?

Healthy communication is an important part of supporting a person with schizophrenia. This means listening, showing support, and offering help. It also means avoiding certain actions, such as: 

1. Judging their condition

People with schizophrenia may experience stigma, which can be very harmful. Avoid using judgemental words such as “crazy” or “irrational” to describe them.

2. Challenging their beliefs

It may be tempting to confront your loved one to try to correct them about their delusions, but this is rarely effective. In fact, it may cause them to feel more agitated and can lead to conflict in your relationship. Instead, try to listen without judgment, and encourage them to get help.

3. Reacting with anger

You will probably find yourself feeling a range of emotions toward your loved one with schizophrenia, including anger, worry, and frustration. Try to be mindful of your reactions and communicate as calmly as possible. 

This can be very difficult to do, but reacting with anger can cause your loved one to become more agitated or withdrawn. It can also be helpful to use simple statements, rather than elaborate explanations, when talking to them during times of heightened symptoms.

4. Sharing their personal information with others

Do not share personal information about your loved one without their permission unless absolutely necessary. Your loved one has the right to privacy. They also have a right to decide who to share their health information with and when. 

If you need to vent about their behavior, talk to a mental health professional or consider joining a support group. Therapy and support groups keep the information you share confidential.

How can you tell if someone needs emergency care for schizophrenia?

In some cases, a person with schizophrenia may require emergency care.

If you feel that your loved one is in danger of hurting themselves or someone else, take them to the emergency room, contact a mobile crisis unit, or call 911. 

If your loved one is talking about suicide, encourage them to contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. They can call or text 988 or chat with the Lifeline online.

Some other potential situations that require emergency care can be more challenging to navigate. For instance, people with schizophrenia may put themselves in dangerous situations or may wander in dangerous places.

If your loved one is experiencing symptoms that require intervention, encourage them to reach out for help on their own terms. When possible, it is ideal to have the person seek help voluntarily, rather than having it forced upon them. 

They can go to the nearest hospital for an evaluation or contact their psychiatric or mental health provider. In some cases, it may be difficult for your loved one to take these actions, and they may refuse. If they refuse help and are in danger, then you will have to reach out for emergency assistance. 

What resources are available to help someone with schizophrenia?

For help finding a behavioral health treatment program or provider, you can contact SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). The helpline is free and confidential and is open 24/7. You can also search for local treatment options using the online Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator. 

The following organizations can provide more information on living with schizophrenia and supporting a loved one who has this illness:

• The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH): NIMH provides information on mental health disorders and treatment options.

• The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): NAMI offers information and support for people with mental illnesses and their family and friends. NAMI also has virtual and in-person support groups for people with mental illness and their loved ones.

• Schizophrenia & Psychosis Action Alliance: This organization provides education and advocates for better public policy and access to treatment. The alliance also runs a free helpline that offers referrals for treatment. The helpline is open Monday to Friday, from 9AM to 5PM in all time zones, and can be reached at 1-800-493-2094.

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Emily Guarnotta, PsyD

Emily Guarnotta, PsyD, is a licensed clinical psychologist and certified perinatal mental health professional with over 10 years of clinical experience.

Edited by:

Renée Fabian, MA

Renée Fabian is the senior pet health editor at GoodRx. She’s worked for nearly 10 years as a journalist and editor across a wide range of health and well-being topics.

Reviewed by:

India B. Gomez, PhD

India B. Gomez, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist with a certificate in Latin American Family Therapy. She completed her doctoral education at the California School of Professional Psychology/Alliant International University.

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