The document provides 10 tips for dealing with a loved one's diagnosis of a serious mental illness such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. The tips include: verifying the diagnosis with a qualified source; allowing yourself to grieve; reminding yourself the diagnosis does not define the person; helping the individual set short-term and long-term treatment goals; asking what support would and would not be helpful; taking care of your own mental health; creating your own support system; maintaining other relationships; and keeping perspective that the journey is more important than any single event or diagnosis.

1. Ways to
Deal with
the
Diagnosis of
Mental
Illness in a
Loved One
Mina Jahani

2. What is Serious mental illness (SMI)?
• Diagnoses typically
involving psychosis or
high levels of care,
which may require
hospital treatment.

3. SCHIZOPHRENIA
• A SMI that makes it
hard to tell the
difference between
what’s real and not
real; Think clearly;
Have normal
emotional
responses; Act
normal in social
situations.

4. • The onset normally
occurs when a person
is in their late teens or
early twenties, or
maybe later
• 1 in every 100 people
is affected
• Very treatable

5. BIPOLAR DISORDER
(MANIC
DEPRESSION)
• A SMI that causes
extreme shifts in
person’s behavior.
• Recuring episodes
of depression and
mania

6. What to do?

7. 1.Verify the source
• Qualified
• Knowlegable

8. 2.Sit with
the feeling
• Feel what
you’re feeling.
• Allow yourself
to grieve.
• Cry if you
need to.

9. 3.Remind yourself that the
diagnosis is not the whole person.
• The illness could
never describe
your loved one
fully.
• Still a comedian,
still a good chef!

10. 4.A diagnosis often brings a sense
of relief to the patient.
• I’m not the only
one!
• There is treat and
hope out there.
• Be supportive.

11. 5.Help him/her
make short term
and long term
goals.

12. • Short term goals:
How do I know if the treatment is working for me?
How do I monitor side effects?
How do I continue to do things I love?
How can I let my loved ones know when I’m
struggling?

13. • Long term goals:
How can I accept this without letting it define me
entirely?
How does this impact my health/ career/marriage?
How do I monitor progress?

14. 6.Ask specific questions on what
would/would not be helpful
• Still an
autonomous
capable adult
(unless deemed
otherwise)
• Do more help.

15. 7.Worring about
yourself is not
selfishness.
• Talk to your physician or
therapist.
• Make a list of your
questions, ask the
answers, write them
down.
• Your concerns are valid
and they have answers.

16. 8.Create your own support system.
• It’s a marathon.
• You need
stamina,
regular breaks,
hydration,
practice and a
sense of humor.

17. • Some days will be good, other days- not so
much.
• Bring joy to your life.

18. 9.Don’t neglect
your other
relationships.
• They deserve your
attention too!
• It’s easier to give love
unconditionally when
you’ve received it
unconditionally.

19. 10.Perspective helps.
• Life is a great equalizer.
• For everything we lose, we gain something else.
• You’ve survived the rough times before.
• Do your best, sit back and let the life unfold it as it
will.

20. The journey is more
important than the
destination.

21. Thanks for your
attention!