Would a Support Group Help Recovery?

I'm not affiliated with any group or program. I am just trying to get the word out about methods that help people recover from schizophrenia. NAMI the National Alliance of Mental Illness is an altruistic organization that offers information and support to people suffering from schizophrenia in several ways. NAMI support groups are places where people who are facing the same challenges come together and share their experience, strength and hope with each other. This video shows real people telling about their experience with support groups and how it has effected their mental health.

Schizophrenia - Overcome Mental Illness Together - Ashley Smith

Ashley was diagnosed with adult-onset Paranoid Schizophrenia in 2007 at the age of 20. Since then she has been active with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) to raise awareness about recovery from schizophrenia. She founded a non-profit organization called, Embracing My Mind, Inc. (EMM). EMM works with community-based organizations that provide services to people affected by mental illness who have little or no income. They offer peer support in the form of support groups, educational classes, and presentations adapted to the needs of various audiences.

Ashley shares her experiences in hopes of empowering others and promoting understanding. She firmly believes, "We can overcome mental illness together!"

Diagnosing and Treating Schizophrenia

This video narrated by Dr. Erdelyi, a professor of psychology at Brooklyn College, gives an overview of the main symptoms of schizophrenia and how they are treated.

Art Therapy - Don't Despair, Share.

Create. Express yourself. Explore your artistic side without judgement. You have a perspective that few people have. Share.

Schizophrenia Success Story

This is a really well done video by a young woman who is having real success with her treatment. It is from a loving and informative website from Canada  mindyourmind.ca

The Devil Was Talking To Me

This 21 year old woman experienced schizophrenia that felt like she was possessed by the devil. It was scary. She spent 3 weeks in a mental hospital and was put on medication that made her feel as if she had been "reset."  Now she is going to school and doing volunteer work. She posted this video to help people who might be going through the same thing.

Janssen Pharmaceutica - Schizophrenia Simulation

Years ago Janssen Pharmaceutica, a pharmaceutical company that specializes in treatment for Schizophrenia created a training program that allowed trainees to experience what it is like to be schizophrenic. Part of the program is the above video simulation of a schizophrenia patient going to a  pharmacy to refill a prescription.

How It Feels - Schizoaffective Disorder

Kathryn Lum explains how it feels to have schizophrenia. This is an excerpt from an episode of Mental Health Matters, a program about mental health.

Dramatization: What Is It Like?

What does it feel like to have schizophrenia?
This is a dramatization that shows what it feels like to have schizophrenia.

Joanne Verbanic - Schizophrenia Anonymous

Joanne Verbanic tells her story of the creation of Schizophrenics Anonymous, a support organization created to:

• Promote hope and recovery for persons with schizophrenia and related disorders
• Eliminate the stigma and myths about schizophrenia
• Raise awareness so that early diagnosis and treatment increase the chance for recovery
• Ensure that consumer-driven and recovery-oriented services are fully accessible

Please check out their informative and helpful website at www.sardaa.org

A Man With Schizoaffective Disorder

A 21 year old man gives an honest account of his schizophrenic symptoms, his drug use, his delusions, obsessions and his hospital stays. Perhaps one of the things about self medicating with non-prescription drugs is that it becomes difficult to tell if the hallucinations or other schizopaffective symptoms are a result of the drugs.

Johnny - Schizoaffective Disorder

Johnny talks about his schizoaffective disorder, which is a mental illness combining the symptoms of schizophrenia and depression.