Loving Someone with Mental Illness: Skills, Hope, and Strength (Ep. 113)

Actionable strategies for these family members and friends who give so much but whose needs and sacrifices are often unappreciated. Written by clinical psychologist Dr. Michelle Sherman and her mother, DeAnne Sherman, an advocate and educator, the book provides:

• Tools to cope with difficult emotions

• Strategies to empower loved ones, including how to navigate the mental health system

• Communication and limit-setting skills

• Approaches to supporting loved ones who have experienced trauma or have PTSD

• Ways to manage common challenges, such as alcohol or drug misuse, and when a loved one declines professional help

• Strategies to support children • Skills to build personal resilience and strengthen relationships

Catch it Early: What Doctors and Practitioners Miss About Mental Illness (Ep. 112)

Guests: Robert C. Smith, MD and Vinod Srihari, MD, Every day, millions of Americans face untreated mental health challenges—and too often, their first point of contact is a medical doctor unequipped to help. Most physicians - and many others who teach and advise youth - aren’t trained to recognize or treat mental health conditions, yet they’re the ones patients turn to first.

This gap in training has devastating consequences, contributing to the mental health crisis we see today.

Dr. Robert Smith, a seasoned physician and thought leader, is sounding the alarm: medical doctors need fundamental training in mental health care. His new book, Has Medicine Lost Its Mind? Why Our Mental Health System is Failing Us and What Should Be Done to Cure (Prometheus Books, March 4, 2025) addresses the poor state of mental health care in the US, why it occurred, what needs to be done, and how to accomplish this politically.

Our Second Guest, Vinod Srihari, MD, spearheads a new program in CT which has just been expanded to reach the whole state after a trial run in ten towns around New Haven. STEP is a clinic staffed by mental health providers in different fields – psychology, psychiatry, nursing, and social work. This "interdisciplinary" team seeks to provide comprehensive care for individuals who are early in the course of a psychotic illness in order to prevent symptoms from becoming disabling.

Sane and Sober: Everyone Deserves to Recover (Ep. 111) - Guest, Eric J Dias

Eric J Dias is no stranger to the struggles people with addiction and severe mental illness experience.

He has lived with schizoaffective disorder since he was a teenager.

Eric has been a tireless advocate for people with SMI and their families. He writes about the many issues and emotions associated with SMI (Severe Mental Illness) in his novel, I Got Sober For This.

In the story, he weaves the stories with issues that affect us all, especially when it comes to SMI - in our homes, the courts, the streets, AA meetings, detention centers, and the criminal justice system.

NYC’s Involuntary Commitment Plan: How’s it working? (Ep. 110)

Two years ago, we had Brian on the podcast to talk about the “Compassionate intervention” program in NYC.

The Adams administration's push was to have more severely mentally ill people brought to hospitals for psychiatric evaluation as compassionate intervention, and to change the state laws about the length of hospital stays.

This law is designed to apply to those who can't recognize their mental condition or take care of themselves, not just those who present an immediate threat to themselves or others.

Lately, with so many SMI and homelessness incidents in NYC making news (a homeless woman set on fire in the subway; a symptomatic mentally ill man’s death by chokehold; NY Governor Kathy Hochul’s support of getting help for those with SMI). we revisit this important issue.

Straight Talk About Living with a Severe Mental Illness (Ep. 109)

Millions of Americans are affected by psychosis, a condition that includes schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression. One man, Darrell Herrmann, is sharing his story in an effort to help others who may be diagnosed with similar conditions. Herrmann, who holds a degree in physical science and served as a military officer, is diagnosed with schizophrenia and has lived with it for 40 years.

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.