Seeking Mental Health And Peer Support With Schizophrenia

Inspired by the well-known Alcoholics Anonymous organization, support groups have emerged for mental and behavioral illnesses of all kinds. There’s a Gamblers Anonymous, a Depressed Anonymous, an Obsessive-Compulsive Anonymous, and many more. What about a Schizophrenia Anonymous? Are there support groups for people with psychotic disorders, and can they facilitate better mental health?

While there’s currently no national body known as “Schizophrenia Anonymous,” there may be many support groups across the country offering spaces for people affected by this disorder to come together and discuss their experiences. These organizations can help those with schizophrenia stay healthy, happy, and functional by providing much-needed social support. If you or someone you love is living with a psychotic disorder, finding a supportive peer community or reaching out to a licensed therapist might be helpful.

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The role of peer support groups in mental illness

While many people are aware of anonymous 12-step meetings as aids in addiction recovery, the role of peer-organized networks of support in other types of mental illness tends to be less widely understood. However, these kinds of groups have become more common around the world in recent years as people with psychological illnesses seek social and emotional support from others who can relate to their experiences. Peer support groups can take many forms, but they’re typically organized and led by members rather than external agencies (though they may partner with larger nonprofits). They usually involve regular meetings for group discussions of topics like:

• Recent experiences related to members’ conditions and recovery efforts
• Strategies for coping with challenges related to mental illness, such as symptoms, stigma, and medication side effects
• Information about treatment options and emerging research
• Events in members’ daily lives

Sometimes, these meetings happen in person, while other groups may meet online using technologies like video chat. The latter option can allow people to participate in support groups even when they don’t live near many other people with similar conditions.

The effects of mental health support groups

The benefits of seeking peer support with schizophrenia

There have only been a few studies on peer support groups as treatment aids for schizophrenia. A 2019 review of the research concluded that there’s not enough high-quality evidence to draw firm conclusions about their effectiveness. However, many people who attend schizophrenia support groups report several kinds of helpful effects. Future research may be able to provide more definitive evidence about how much benefit they provide, but there are several reasons to think they might benefit individuals with schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders.

Social interaction with other people with schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is often thought of in terms of psychotic symptoms like hallucinations, but the condition can also involve deficits in mental functions like social cognition (the ability to understand and interact with other people). Many negative outcomes from this disease tend to be linked to negative symptoms, meaning diminished capability for functions like the following:

• Emotional responsivity
• Decision-making
• Motivation
• Experiencing pleasure and happiness
• Complex speech

This may lead to isolation, which can make it harder to receive effective care while also reinforcing some of the cognitive and emotional symptoms of schizophrenia. Individuals who don’t experience regular social contact may have less opportunity to exercise their mental skills. Researchers have uncovered evidence that a smaller social network may be linked to more severe negative symptoms and other psychological difficulties in people with schizophrenia. Participating in a peer support group could be one path for individuals with psychotic disorders to maintain an active social life. Support groups may enable members to meet other people who can empathize with the difficulties that come with severe mental illness.

Decreased stigma

Stigmatizing attitudes toward mental illness can decrease quality of life and impede recovery for people with schizophrenia. In addition to spurring discriminatory behavior from others, judgmental or hostile beliefs about people with psychiatric disorders may be internalized by individuals with schizophrenia, potentially causing them to view themselves negatively. This phenomenon is commonly referred to as self-stigma. Higher levels of self-stigma can be linked to a variety of negative outcomes in schizophrenia, such as stronger depressive symptoms, impaired daily functioning, worse quality of life, and lower self-esteem. Self-stigma may also discourage individuals from seeking effective treatment.

Research suggests that participating in peer-led support groups for mental illness can be an effective way to reduce the effects of self-stigma. Support groups may improve self-confidence and the willingness to pursue treatment while lowering stigmatizing attitudes and the stress that often accompanies them.

Early warning of relapses

People in treatment for schizophrenia often experience relapses in which their symptoms worsen significantly, and more frequent relapse seems to be associated with worse overall outcomes. Certain kinds of interventions can sometimes head off a relapse, but this may only be possible if the warning signs are correctly identified. Having regular interactions with a group of people knowledgeable about schizophrenia, such as a peer support group, may increase the chances that someone will notice your worsening symptoms in time for you to seek help. 

Options for peer support

Many dedicated organizations are working to make peer support available to those living with schizophrenia. Here are a few notable examples.

Schizophrenia Alliance (SA)

One group with a large presence both online and offline is Schizophrenia Alliance, or SA. Founded in 1985 as Schizophrenics Anonymous, the organization has local chapters across the country, as well as online conference calls and video meetings for people who can’t participate in person. According to their guidelines, group members are expected to “maintain an attitude of caring, fellowship, and support” while remaining non-judgmental and keeping any delicate information learned in meetings to themselves.

Schizophrenia Alliance is administered in partnership with the Schizophrenia & Psychosis Action Alliance (S&PAA), and information about participating in meetings can be found on their website. Meeting groups are typically organized and led by members living with schizophrenia or a related illness. 

Schizophrenia Peer Support

This online support network for people with schizophrenia is organized through the Discord platform. The group runs many different channels focused on specific topics like medication management, staying on top of daily responsibilities, and inspirational content. Hundreds of members participate, and there’s a twice-weekly live group chat. Peer Support for Schizophrenia is an offshoot of the Living Well With Schizophrenia YouTube channel but maintains its own site where those interested can locate information.

Students With Psychosis (SWP)

This nationwide organization is dedicated to supporting adolescents and young adults experiencing symptoms of schizophrenia and similar conditions. Along with peer-to-peer support, SWP creates and distributes educational materials and advocates for people with mental illness. SWP support groups can only be reached through educational institutions. If you’re attending a school that doesn’t have a chapter, you can register your institution online.

Families for Care (FFC)

Another group organized by the S&PAA, Families for Care offers a discussion space for people who are assisting loved ones living with schizophrenia and psychosis. Members can share information, inspiration, and coping strategies they’ve found helpful, along with emotional support for the challenges of managing this illness. FFC is available through the same online portal as Schizophrenia Alliance. 

NAMI Connection

This support group is organized through the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), one of the country’s largest mental health nonprofits. NAMI is a peer-led group with no cost for attendance, with both local chapters and online discussion groups. Though NAMI is not specific to schizophrenia, many of the participants and peer leaders have experience living with psychotic symptoms or other kinds of serious mental illness. You can learn more, including how to sign up, at NAMI’s website. 

Need professional and empathetic support for schizophrenia?

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Therapy can complement peer support for people with schizophrenia

Peer support groups can be a helpful form of psychosocial support for people with schizophrenia. However, they can’t directly provide psychotherapy, and they may not be able to offer the same kind of evidence-based advice as a licensed mental health professional. Working with a therapist could be an additional source of effective support if you’re experiencing symptoms of a psychotic disorder. 

The benefits of online therapy

Many people with schizophrenia may find it challenging to maintain regular attendance at therapy. Some symptoms of this condition can make it difficult to obtain transportation or arrange your schedule around meetings with a care provider. Online therapy may be more convenient. Since there’s no commute involved, scheduling sessions is often much easier. Please note that in-person support may be needed for individuals experiencing acute psychosis.

The efficacy of mental health care through online therapy

Though research on the topic is still ongoing, there’s evidence that online therapy could be effective for schizophrenia. One study published in 2017 reported that internet-based treatment could successfully diminish psychotic symptoms while improving social functioning and mental health knowledge.