Should our Loved One with SMI Live With Us? (ep 108)

Welcome to this episode, where we explore a deeply personal and often complex topic: the choice to have relatives with severe mental illness live at home with family.

Joined by listener guests, we dive into the emotional, practical, and ethical aspects of this decision.

Is home the best place for healing and connection, or do the demands overwhelm family dynamics? How do caregivers balance compassion with self-care? And what role should professional support play?

You’ll hear heartfelt stories, honest discussions of the challenges, and perspectives on what works—or doesn’t. Tune in for an insightful conversation about navigating this delicate choice.

Meaningful Recovery in SMI: Expanding Access to Treatment that Works (Ep.107)

Dr. Robert Laitman is a psychiatric internist dedicated to changing the treatment paradigm for psychosis. He is the author of “Meaningful Recovery from Schizophrenia & Serious Mental Illness with Clozapine” which outlines his families personal story supporting his son through schizophrenia and pioneering a novel evidence based approach to psychosis treatment with clozapine.

Mimi Liu is the former COO & CTO of Firefly Health, where she led operations and tech for delivering integrated primary care and behavioral health services. Mimi leads Doro Mind with the personal passion that comes from supporting her brother through his journey with psychosis.

Trauma-Informed Parenting: Help for Support and Healing (Ep. 106)

When parents are Trauma Informed they are better equipped to help their children heal - and to take care of themselves. Trauma Informed Parent offers information, resources and perspective for parents and caregivers of children, teens and young adults who have experienced trauma or adverse childhood experiences.

Guests: Suzy DeYoung, Catherine Galda, Trauma Informed Parent

But Where Can They Live? : Housing for Those with SMI (Ep. 105)

Individuals with mental illnesses are significantly more vulnerable to housing instability and homelessness.

Factors such as unmanaged mental health symptoms, job loss, inpatient treatment, or involvement with the criminal justice system often compound the challenges they face in securing and maintaining stable housing.

Without stable housing, recovery from mental illness becomes unattainable. There is an urgent need to sustain and expand permanent supportive housing.

We interview the directors of two such programs, sorely needed.

The Never Ending Cycle: Crisis, Coping, Advocacy (Ep. 104)

Someone you love has SMI (Serious Mental Illness)?

NAMI Family-to-Family talks about the the emotional stages for families: Crisis, Coping, Advocacy Unfortunately, like a game of chutes and ladders, you can cycle back at any time. Only thing is - it all becomes more familiar each time.

Randye’s son is spiraling out of control - again. Heat why - and also hear what you can do to help important medications be more available for those with Schizophrenia.

Amazing Grace: Single Mother, Adult Son with Schizophrenia, Award-Winning Short Film

Based on the true stories of many families, Amazing Grace tells the story of a single mother caring for her adult son with schizophrenia. Aiden Keltner is the filmmaker, and did some of his research in focus groups gathered by Randye and Mindy, and is a treasured friend of this podcast.

Amazing Grace is a three time Emmy Award recipient (NATAS PSW) for Best Arts/Entertainment Program, Best Director and Best Performer (Deborah Gilmore Smyth).

Aiden's focus as a filmmaker, is on telling underrepresented stories from the mental health community. Aiden has been inspired by his own lived experience with close family members diagnosed with serious mental illnesses. Currently, he is developing different feature films on this subject.

Beyond Hidden Valley Road for Adult Siblings: What’s In Your Hands? (Ep. 102)

We interview Lindsay Mary Galvin Rauch, Mental Health Advocate/Speaker, youngest sibling of the Hidden Valley Road family.

“ I draw inspiration from my upbringing with ten older brothers, six of whom bravely fought schizophrenia. Sharing my story and journey can make a positive impact. Let's break the stigma together.”

Caregivers, You Are Not Alone - But Are You Liable? - with Ken Duckworth, MD (Ep.101)

Ken Duckworth, MD recently authored NAMI’s first book, “You Are Not Alone: The NAMI Guide to Navigating Mental Health―With Advice from Experts and Wisdom from Real People and Families.” We Ask about: his journey, the book, his thoughts on parental responsibility and liability, and any promising new research in schizophrenia.

Kody Green, Schizophrenic Hippie - From Incarceration & Addiction to Advocacy/Inspiration -Ep. 100

Kody lives with schizophrenia and is a motivational speaker/content creator with over a million followers on TikTok alone (@schizophrenichippie). He has also overcome struggles with drug addiction and incarceration, which he shares information about on his platform. To be a better advocate and speaker, Kody has been trained as a peer support specialist, recovery coach and suicide prevention specialist. He shares his story here.

What Will Happen When We’re Gone? Trusts, Pooled Trusts and More-Ep. 99

Many people who care for a loved one with SMI (Serious Mental Illness) or any disability wonders: what will happen when we are gone?

Can we use Trusts to help our loved ones with SMI - now, and after we are gone?

This episode answers a lot of those questions.

Cannabis and Mental Illness - Is Marijuana to Blame for Psychosis?-Ep. 97

Although schizophrenia contains a spectrum of symptoms and influences, many now believe that marijuana was the last straw that “pulled the trigger” which resulted in psychosis and its aftermath - and that, if we’d known the dangers we could have done more to prevent our loved ones from serious mental illness episodes. Do science and statistical evidence back this up?

Lab Bench to Bedside: Research and Partnership in Schizophrenia Treatment -Ep. 96

The Johns Hopkins Schizophrenia Symposium brings together world-renowned experts in psychiatry, mental health, and neuroscience in order to present diverse aspects of the disorder, discuss their findings with colleagues, and be available to answer attendees’ questions.

This year, the speakers presented their cutting-edge and multidisciplinary approaches, including those that interfere among molecular pathology, digital science, public outreach, and clinical psychiatry.

Families were invited to attend - for FREE - and could attend a panel discussion the night before, plus the chance to participate in round-table lunch discussions with the speakers.

Through this symposium, they hope to translate the efforts of the lab bench to the bedside, and eventually to society by discussing and addressing schizophrenia and other mental illnesses from both clinical and scientific standpoints.

The symposium was open to all: researchers, clinicians, and family members of those diagnosed with schizophrenia. It was amazing.

Here Mimi and I review what we learned, along with friend of the podcast, Laura Pogliano

No One Cares About Crazy People: A Documentary Film-in-Progress -Ep. 95

No One Cares About Crazy People is a feature documentary film-in-progress about the tragedy, crisis and chaos of severe mental illness in America – and a burgeoning national crusade to do something about it NO ONE CARES ABOUT CRAZY PEOPLE takes us inside the tragedy, chaos, and crisis of severe mental illness in America. It derives in part from Ron Powers’ acclaimed book of the same name, a hybrid narrative of tragic family memoir and searing social history. Guest: Gail Freedman, Director & Producer Your support is critical to help us complete this film and tell the powerful stories that can be a catalyst for new understanding and action. All gifts, grants and donations are fully tax-deductible. Links: https://noonecaresfilm.com/

“Into the Light - Meaningful Recovery From Psychosis”, The Film -Ep. 94

Guests: Angela and Michael Brisbin (plus 3 Moms updates and we read some Fan mail!) INTO THE LIGHT Meaningful Recovery From Psychosis, a 60 minute documentary discusses how to achieve Meaningful Recovery from Serious Mental Illness with education, medication and advocacy. A message of hope and real help, the film’s topics include: barriers to treatment, the underutilized medication, clozapine, and the importance of a supportive community. Links: https://www.intothelightmeaningfulrec... https://www.teamdanielrunningforrecov... https://www.facebook.com/groups/www.t...

Living With Psychosis, Part 3 -Christopher Grant’s Story (told to SZ Society of York) -Ep. 93

Part 3, which really got to me because it felt as though I were talking to my own son (if he had insight into his illness)

Chris had a "tumultuous" time several years ago, dealing with the onset of schizoaffective disorder, but has overcome addiction and homelessness and established stability for himself, while also being an extremely productive artist. His artist name, as well as his social media handle, is xoradmagical.

Living With Psychosis, Part 2 - Matthew Dickson’s Story (told to SZ Society of York) -Ep. 92

This is Part 2 - Matthew’s Story. Here is his bio:

“Hi, I'm Matthew Dickson! I'm a Canadian who helps people in developing countries get access to basic mental health care. I've suffered from mental health problems myself (schizophrenia). I bicycled across Canada when I was 20 in the middle of getting an engineering degree. But at 22 I was diagnosed with schizophrenia. It took awhile, but I successfully recovered from schizophrenia, and in 2023 I bicycled across Canada again, becoming the first person with schizophrenia to do so! Recovery is possible! Now I'm trying to help others going through mental illness, primarily in developing countries, as they have it worse than we do in developed countries.”

Living With Psychosis, Part 1 - Randye’s Story (told to SZ Society of York) -Ep. 91

Ever wonder what psychosis feels like. From someone who has experienced it and now has the insight so many of our loved ones do not have?

Schizophrenia Society of York (SSY) collaborated with the Schizophrenia Society of Canada (SSC) for this - their 4th annual panel event, "Duality of the Reality: Living with Psychosis."

I was delighted to join Christopher Grant (artist known as xoradmagical on social media), and Matthew Dickson (bicycled across Canada to raise funds for mental health services). You’ll hear the panel in three parts - First, my story of the family POV when psychosis occurs, then Matthew, then Christopher - who reminded me so much of my son Ben’s experience, it almost felt like I was having the conversation with him I wish I could have - if there were insight.

Ask the Moms - Listeners are the Guests (Ep. 90)

In this episode, listeners tell us what's on their minds and we answer as best we can. We talk about anosognosia, incarceration, psychotic delusions, what we would have done differently if we'd known then what we know now, and lots more.

We open with a poem by a listener who is diagnosed with SZ: Dale Walsh Poem - “I am a recovered reaching out help lessen the challenges encountered by family caregivers”

Awakenings: Stories of Recovery and Emergence from Schizophrenia (Ep. 89)

These inspiring stories will help you see schizophrenia in a new, more hopeful light - with the 3 Moms adding that if early detection and anosognosia are not taken into account, the outcomes can differ. There is so much work to be done - and so much to gain from it.

Preventing Crisis: Mental Health Literacy and Why It’s Essential (Ep. 88)

Do you have a loved one with Serious Mental Illness?

Do you wonder why it took so long for someone to recognize the symptoms?

Mental Health Literacy would have helped prevent the crises we have dealt with.

Guest: Annie Slease, Co-Founder of the Mental Health Literacy Collaborative.

The mission of the MHLC is to make evidence-based mental health literacy a foundational part of PK-12 education and communities.