Programs & Services

1st Generation Anti-Psychotics (Typical Anti-Psychotics) - The Schizophrenia Library

First generation ‘typical’ antipsychotics are an older class of antipsychotic than second generation ‘atypical’ antipsychotics. They are used primarily to treat positive symptoms including the experiences of perceptual abnormalities (hallucinations) and fixed, false, irrational beliefs (delusions). These include:

• Benperidol

• Bromperidol

• Chlorpromazine

• Droperidol

• Flupentixol

• Fluphenazine

• Fluspirilene

• Haloperidol

• Levomepromazine

• Loxapine

• Metiapine

• Molindone

• Penfluridol

• Perazine

• Perphenazine

• Perazine

• Perphenazine

• Pimozide

• Piperacetazine

• Pipotiazine

• Sulpiride

• Thioridazine

• Trifluoperazine

• Zuclopenthixol

• Side effects

• All antipsychotics versus placebo

• First versus second generation

2nd Generation Anti-Psychotics (Atypical Anti-Psychotics) - The Schizophrenia Library

Second generation antipsychotics (sometimes referred to as ‘atypical’ antipsychotics) are a newer class of antipsychotic medication than first generation ‘typical’ antipsychotics. Second generation antipsychotics are effective for the positive symptoms of schizophrenia. It is sometimes claimed that they are more effective than first generation antipsychotics in treating the negative symptoms of schizophrenia, although the evidence for this is weak. Negative symptoms include a lack of ordinary mental activities such as emotional expression, social engagement, thinking and motivation, whereas positive symptoms include the experiences of perceptual abnormalities (hallucinations) and fixed, false, irrational beliefs (delusions).

• Amisulpride

• Aripiprazole

• Asenapine

• Blonanserin

• Brexpiprazole

• Cariprazine

• Carpipramine

• Clocapramine

• Clotiapine

• Clozapine

• Iloperidone

• Lurasidone

• Mosapramine

• Olanzapine

• Paliperidone

• Perospirone

• Quetiapine

• Remoxipride

• Risperidone

• Sertindole

• Ziprasidone

• Zotepine

A History of Voice Hearing - Understanding Voices

Experiences of hearing voices have played different roles for individuals and communities throughout human history in which voices have been interpreted, represented and understood within a European context. We look at the voices of medieval mystics, of people admitted to psychiatric asylums in the nineteenth century and of famous literary authors in the early twentieth century. We also look at the emergence from the late 1980s of the World Hearing Voices Movement – an international people’s movement.

• Voices in medieval mysticism

• Voices from the nineteenth-century asylum

• Literary voices in the twentieth century

• Millennial voices: An international people’s movement

A History of Voice Hearing - Understanding Voices

Experiences of hearing voices have played different roles for individuals and communities throughout human history in which voices have been interpreted, represented and understood within a European context. We look at the voices of medieval mystics, of people admitted to psychiatric asylums in the nineteenth century and of famous literary authors in the early twentieth century. We also look at the emergence from the late 1980s of the World Hearing Voices Movement – an international people’s movement.

• Voices in medieval mysticism

• Voices from the nineteenth-century asylum

• Literary voices in the twentieth century

• Millennial voices: An international people’s movement

Adjunctive Treatments for Schizophrenia - The Schizophrenia Library

There are a number of supplementary (or adjunctive) treatment that are administered in conjunction with a patient’s ongoing antipsychotic therapy. These include:

• Adenosine modulates (particularly dipyridamole and propentofylline) may improve symptoms, particularly positive symptoms, in people with schizophrenia.
• Amphetamines: single-dose dexamfetamine or methylphenidate increases severity or frequency of positive symptoms, particularly in patients who are not in remission.
• Analeptics (such as modafinil) have been suggested as potential adjunctive treatments for schizophrenia. Modafinal is a wake-promoting drug (mechanisms of action unknown) which is thought to help with the sedation side-effects of antipsychotics. 

• Anti-inflammatory: growing evidence suggests that inflammatory processes may contribute to the development of schizophrenia. This suggests a potential role for anti-inflammatory medications, such as non-steroidal agents (e.g., aspirin) which may be potentially useful therapeutic strategies, particularly in combination with ongoing antipsychotic medication.

• Anticholinergics block the action of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Anticholinergic medications may have some utility for the treatment of side effects of antipsychotic medications, including movement disorders like akathisia (a type of restlessness, a common side effect of many neuroleptics), as well as excessive salivation. 

• Anticonvulsant medications influence the actions of neurotransmitters including glutamate and GABA, leading to a decrease in brain cell (neuron) excitability. They may be prescribed as an immediate adjunct to antipsychotic medication in order to treat acute symptoms of psychosis, such as aggressive behaviour. They may also be used as part of an ongoing treatment regime in order to supplement antipsychotic effects or combat side effects like movement disorders. Anticonvulsant medications assessed in this topic primarily include valproate, carbamazepine, and lamotrigine.

• Anticraving medications (such as naltrexone) that aim to reduce craving for and use of substances may improve substance dependence in people with schizophrenia.

• Antidepressants: have been proposed as an additional therapy to standard antipsychotic treatments, in an attempt to improve functional outcomes and treat symptoms that are not addressed by the antipsychotic medication alone. Antidepressant medications have been studied as treatments for the symptoms of schizophrenia, particularly negative symptoms, as well as for treating people with co-occurring schizophrenia and depression.

• Benzodiazepines may be implemented as an adjunct to antipsychotic medication in order to treat acute symptoms of psychosis such as agitation, aggression, irritability, or anxiety. They may also be used to treat side effects of antipsychotic medications such as movement disorders including tardive dyskinesia, however they are associated with their own side effects and are associated with well-established patterns of tolerance and dependence, so they are prescribed with caution.

• Beta blockers can be prescribed in addition to standard antipsychotic regimes in order to target some side effects of these medications, including extrapyramidal symptoms such as akathisia (a type of restlessness, a common and early-onset side effect of many neuroleptics). Beta blockers have also been used to reduce the physical symptoms of anxiety in people with schizophrenia (for example, pounding heart, clammy hands, sweating), and have also been suggested to reduce aggression.

• Calcium channel blockers are prescribed with extreme caution due to their potential for extreme side effects, and the dopamine-blocking actions that may interfere or interact with neuroleptic medications.

• Cannabinoids

• Catecholamines: L-DOPA improve overall symptom severity and may benefit tardive dyskinesia.

• Cholinergic medications have been prescribed for tardive dyskinesia, which is a common side effect of antipsychotics, involving repetitive, involuntary movements most commonly occurring around the mouth and face. 

• Cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEI) (or anticholinesterase) have been proposed as an additional therapy to standard antipsychotic treatments in an attempt to improve functional outcomes and treat symptoms that are not addressed by the antipsychotic medication alone. 

• Erythropoietin

• Essential fatty acids: people with schizophrenia have shown to have lower levels of these essential compounds and their products,including omega-3 products docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), its esther, ethyl-eicosapentaenoic acid (E-EPA), omega-6 product arachidonic acid (AA), and their metabolites including prostaglandins (PGE).

• GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) is a common neurotransmitter in the brain, and GABA-ergic neurons are thought to interact with antipsychotic medications, contributing to side effects such as tardive dyskinesia. GABA-acting medications (such as baclofen, progabide, or sodium valproate) may contribute to increasing the activity of GABA neurons, potentially leading to reduced medication side effects. 

• GHB

• Glutamate receptor modulators: have been suggested as an adjunctive therapy to standard antipsychotic treatments, when individuals have sub-optimal responses to treatment. The glutamate receptor modulators that have been trialed in schizophrenia are predominantly amino acids, and act on several different aspects of the glutamatergic neurotransmission system. Agents include glycine, D-serine, D-cycloserine, D-alanine, CX516, sarcosine, N-acetyl cysteine, and memantine. These agents have been studied for efficacy in improving symptom severity and cognitive function.

• Mood stabilisers have been proposed as an adjunctive therapy to standard antipsychotic treatments when individuals have sub-optimal responses to treatment. Mood stabilisers may be implemented as an immediate therapy for acute symptoms of psychosis, but they may also be used as part of an ongoing treatment regime. Mood stabiliser medications assessed in this topic include lithium as well as anticonvulsant medications (valproate, carbamazepine, and lamotrigine).

• Nicotine

• Oestrogen is a hormone that has been proposed to confer a protective effect for schizophrenia.  This protective effect may mean that pre-menopausal women who develop schizophrenia may experience a less severe illness than males. Oestrogens are not used routinely for people with schizophrenia; however some studies have trialed the use of oestrogen as an additional, adjunctive treatment to standard antipsychotic treatment.

• Oxytocin is a neuromodulatory neuropeptide that is important for the correct processing of emotional stimuli in a social context. It has been proposed that difficulties in social cognition in schiozphrenia and other disorders such as autism, are underpinned by disruption in the dopaminergic/oxytonergic circuitry linked to socio-emotional processing. Oxytocin has been linked to prosocial behaviours in some studies, but not in others. So, oxytocin effects may be moderated by features of the social environment or individual differences.

• Promethazine medications are a type of sedative, in the class of antihistamine drugs. One widely known commercial promethazine is Phenergan. They work on the central nervous system, resulting in a decrease in brain cell activity. Promethazine has been used in combination with antipsychotics in situations where benzodiazepines may not be used in order to evoke sedative effects.

• Serotonin Modulators: atypical antipsychotics are thought to have some affinity for serotonin 5-HT receptors (e.g. clozapine, quetiapine and olanzapine among others) suggesting a potential for the use of serotonin-specific medications in the treatment of schizophrenia.

• Sodium nitroprusside

• Statins are effective cholesterol lowering agents and are used to prevent cardiovascular disease improving symptoms of schizophrenia when given in conjunction with antipsychotics.

• Testosterone is a hormone that has shown to be reduced in people with schizophrenia. Although not used routinely as a therapy for schizophrenia, some studies have trialed the use of testosterone as an additional, adjunctive treatment to standard antipsychotic treatments.

Advice For Friends - Hearing Voices Network Autearoa New Zealand

Advocacy - Helping People that have Schizophrenia - Schizophrenia.Com

An Introduction to Schiozophrenia - Schizophrenia.Com

An Introduction to Schizophrenia provices an overview and introduction of schizophrenia and paranoid schizophrenia

Antecedents of Schizophrenia - The Schizophrenia Library

Antecedents are physical and cognitive alterations observed in people prior to the onset of schizophrenia, usually in childhood and adolescence, and may be early indicators of illness progression. They are still being investigated, but may include motor and cognitive dysfunction, speech and language impediments, behavioural problems and psychopathology such as anxiety, delusions and hallucinations.

• Attention dysfunction

• Autonomic nervous system anomalies

• Behavioural disturbances and psychopathology

• Dermatoglyphic anomalies

• Eye tracking anomalies

• Face emotion processing anomalies

• Height and body mass index

• IQ and academic performance

• Mild physical anomalies

• Motor dysfunction

• Olfactory identification deficits

• Sleep disturbance

• Speech and hearing deficits

• Stress responsivity anomalies

Anti-Stigma/Myth vs. Fact - Schizophrenia Society of Newfoundland and Labrador

Anxiety Disorder - Schizophrenia Society of New Brunswick

Arts Based Therapy - Schizophrenia Awareness Association (SAA)

Arts Based Therapy (ABT) is use of art forms to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship. ABT derives theoretical base from a systematic training in Subtle Energy Guide from the Indian Mind Traditions, notably Buddhist Psychology and Ethics interfaced with information from neuroscience and developmental psychology. Interventions are designed as per the specific therapeutic goals for each participant. In ABT, the emphasis is on the process and the artistic outcomes are secondary. Playfulness ensures that there is no stress and no pressure. As a complementary therapy, it acknowledges the role of other therapies and approaches.

Weekly, ABT sessions are now being conducted by Aanand for user survivors at SAA’s Rehab Centre under a 3 year project supported by Mariwalla Health Initiative (MHI). Under this Project, ABT sessions, complimentary to other rehab activities at the Centre, will address personalized therapeutic needs, within the context of individual patterns and possibilities of their healing/rehabilitation. Each group of 10 service users will go through 2 steps ABT intervention.

Assess Your Own Paranoia - Paranoid Thoughts

Assess your paranoia is a survey with the results from the survey being revealed.

Assessment & Diagnosis of Schizophrenia - The Schizophrenia Library

A diagnosis of schizophrenia is not a simple one, with symptoms varying across individuals. This category contains information about diagnostic tools for schizophrenia and related disorders, and early detection tools for identifying those at risk of a first episode of psychosis.

• Outcome Assessment Tools

• Early Detection

• First-Episode Psychosis

• High-Risk Groups

• Treatments for High-Risk Groups

• Duration of Untreated Psychosis and Outcomes

• Duration of Untreated Psychosis

• Cognition in High-Risk Groups

• Treatments for Cognitive Symptoms

• Schizoaffective Disorder

• Schizophrenia

• Schizophreniform Disorder

Associated Treatment for Schizophrenia - The Schizophrenia Library

• Treatments for constipation: adjunct medications prescribed to treat side effects such as constipation may contribute to increasing adherence to antipsychotics which can reduce the risk of psychotic relapse.

• Treatments for hyperprolactinaemia: one potential side effect of antipsychotic use is hyperprolactinaemia, which can disrupt sex hormones and the production and flow of breast milk, and can cause infertility and erectile dysfunction in men. Hyperprolactinaemia is caused by blocking of the D2 dopamine receptor at the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland, resulting in high prolactin levels. As different antipsychotics have different actions, they also differ in the degree to which they affect prolactin levels.

• Treatments for hypersalivation: antipsychotic medications (such as clozapine and olanzapine among others) may induce excessive (hyper) salivation, which can be uncomfortable and embarrassing as well as increasing the risk of aspiration pneumonia. Various pharmacological approaches have been used to try and alleviate this problem. Adjunctive medications prescribed to treat such side effects may contribute to increasing adherence to antipsychotic medications, which reduces the risk of psychotic relapse.

• Treatments for movement disorders: the antipsychotic promethazine and pyridoxal 5 phosphate (vitamin B6), the anxiolytic buspirone, the cognitive enhancer/stimulant pemoline, and the alkaloids dihydrogenated ergot alkaloid and L-Stepholidine, GABA-acting medications, branched-chain amino acids, enzyme VMAT2 inhibitors, ginkgo biloba, and the antiepileptic levetiracetam, the antidepressant isocarboxazid over the anticholinergic procyclidine all help reduce tardive dyskinesia. There were no significant benefits for tardive dyskinesia of ceruletide, vitamin E, cholinergic medications, noradrenergic or dopaminergic medications, benzodiazepines, evening primrose oil, lithium, oestrogen, the antidepressants selegiline and ritanserin, melatonin, the antihistamine cyproheptadine, the alkaloid papaverine, the cognitive enhancer piracetam, eicosapentaenoic acid derivative, and the antiepileptic levetiracetam. 

• Treatments for sexual dysfunction: sildenafil may improve sexual functioning in males with schizophrenia.

• Treatments for sleep disturbance

• Treatments for smoking cessation: heavy cigarette use may contribute to the increased mortality and reduced life expectancy reported within the schizophrenia population.

• Treatments for weight gain

• Herbal medicines

B-Vitamins for Schizophrenia - Schizophrenia.Com

Beck Road Alliance (BRA) - Jacqui Dillon

The Beck Road Alliance (BRA) exists to support survivors of organised childhood sexual abuse on Beck Road, Hackney, and ALL survivors EVERYWHERE, to share their testimonies of surviving childhood sexual abuse. BRA believes that by sharing our experiences, we’re showing the world that the reality of childhood sexual abuse is a global epidemic, which profoundly effects girls and boys. BRA believes that breaking the silence about childhood sexual abuse is crucial in terms of healing from the impact of, and drawing attention to, the widespread prevalence of abuse. Our silence will not protect us. Only the truth will set us free. BRA believes that it is the mark of a responsible society (and responsive services), to honour those experiences, support them and learn from them at all levels.  Only then can we stop the cycle of abuse and prevent future generations from being left with the lifelong legacy of surviving childhood sexual exploitation.

Biochemical Changes in Schizophrenia - The Schizophrenia Library

Biochemical changes include the research into changes in biochemical levels in people with schizophrenia, which indicate markers for the disorder and can provide insights into improved drug treatments.

• Brain pH and lactate

• cAMP

• Cholesterol

• Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that is important for emotional and cognitive processing in the brain, particularly rewarding and pleasurable stimuli or experiences. Alterations of the dopamine system have been suggested in schizophrenia. This may be assessed as changes in levels of dopamine or its metabolites, or as changes in levels or activity of the mechanical components of the dopamine system, such as the receptors that receive dopamine, or the transporters that remove it.

• GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) is the most important inhibitor of neurotransmitters in the central nervous system and is often dysfunctional in people with mood disorders that has also been investigated in people with schizophrenia. GABA can be measured via peripheral levels in plasma, via central levels in cerebrospinal fluid, and in brain regions using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). Possible GABA dysfunction has led to interest in GABA-acting medications as possible adjunctive treatments for schizophrenia (such as baclofen, progabide, and sodium valproate).

• Homocysteine

• Hormonal Changes

• Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA)

• Infectious Agents

• Lipids

• Inflammatory and immunological change

• Melatonin

• Neurometabolites

• Neuropeptides

• Nitric Oxide (NO): disturbances in NO formation or release could interfere with the known functions of NO activity (including neural maturation and synapse formation) could have relevance for possible neurodevelopmental aetiology of schizophrenia.

• NMDA receptor function: there may be changes in levels of glutamate and its metabolites and changes in levels or activity of mechanical components of the NMDA receptor system (such as the receptors that ‘receive’ glutamate or the transporters that ‘remove’ it) in schizophrenia.

• Oxidative stress: there is decreases in catalase and superoxide dismutase in red blood cells, and decreases in nitrate and uric acid in plasma in people with first-episode psychosis.

• S100 proteins: there is a potential susceptibility of S100 gene in schizophrenia.

• Serotonin is a neurotransmitter whose dysregulation may underlie the negative symptoms and high rates of depression seen in people with schizophrenia. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors have been found to be effective in treating the negative symptoms of the disorder with acute tryptophan depletion (a dietary manipulation that lowers brain serotonin (5-HT) synthesis) being shown to worsen negative symptoms.

• Synaptic Proteins

• Translocator protein

• Vitamin B

• Vitamin D

• Zinc: reduced zinc levels in people with schizophrenia compared to people without schizophrenia, particularly in patients who were newly diagnosed and drug-naive.

Bipolar Disorder - Schizophrenia Society of New Brunswick

Borderline Personality Disorder - Schizophrenia Society of New Brunswick

Brain Structures & Schizophrenia - The Schizophrenia Library

There are numerous changes of brain structure in people with schizophrenia, particular in the various regiuons of the brain

• Brain weight

• Amygdala 

• The arcuate fasciculus 

• The basal ganglia

• Cerebellum

• Cingulate cortex

• Claustrum

• Corpus callosum

• Default mode network

• Frontal Lobe

• Hippocampus

• Insular Cortex

• Occipital Lope

• Pareital Lobe

• Temporal Lobe

• Thalamus

• Ventricular System

• Wholve Brain Volume

Bridging the Gap - Hearing Voices Network Dundee

Bridging the Gap is a 5 year Project  to develop a Befriending Service. The scheme is for anyone living in the Dundee area who is experiencing mental health illness, is in receipt of a service, is socially isolated and/or who could benefit from the support and encouragement a volunteer befriender could provide.

A Befriender is someone who respects you for who you are, encourages you to be more confident in yourself, and holds an interest in heart to be with you and support you through your difficulties. A Befriender has an understanding of the problems arising from mental distress, and offers support and understanding. However, a Befriender is not a medical professional, a social worker nor a counsellor; and their service is neither judgmental nor compulsory. It is an unpaid voluntary position. Befrienders meet up with you on a regular basis to take part in activities you both enjoy, there are no recommended activities and it is completely between you and your befriender on what activity you decide on. The timings and place for meeting are arranged between yourself and the befriender but there is additional guidance and support available from the scheme coordinator if needed.  Being a befriender is basically being a friend to someone who, for whatever reason, may need a friend but find it difficult to form friendships or finds it difficult to meet new people. The befriending relationship hopes benefits for both people in the friendship. For the Befriended, they gain support, reduced social isolation and take part in something they enjoy just to name a few benefits. For the Befriender there are also quite a few benefits, such as the following benefits:

• The opportunity to witness the effect their companionship and advice born from their own experience has on the life of the person they are befriending.
• Gain insight into other people’s experiences, which might retrospectively help them in their day to day.
• Becoming a Befriender involves a journey of personal growth and recovery.
• Gain further knowledge about Mental Health.
• Travel expenses and insurance are ensured for all volunteered engaged in Befriending on behalf of the Hearing Voices Network

Bristol Hearing Voices Network History - Bristol Hearing Voices Network (BHVN)

First Hearing Voices Group started in Bristol at Our Chance (Rethink), facilitated by Don Swift. The Bristol Hearing Voices Network Self-Help Group was established following a number of local consultation meetings, organised and chaired by Tim Dowling (Co-Founder & Community Psychiatric Nurse - Grove Rd). We officially launched at an open event on 29th May 2002, introduced by Keith Hall (Member), and marked by a guest speech from Ron Coleman.

Bristol Hearing Voices Network Training. - Bristol Hearing Voices Network (BHVN)

Bristol Hearing Voices Network (BHVN) offer training covering voice hearing and other unusual experiences. This training aims to give people an understanding so they can approach Voice Hearers with some empathy, dispel misconceptions of the Voice Hearing experience, provide a perception of a Voice Hearing experience outside the medical model and not seeing the experience as an illness. Topics covered in the training include:

• A different view of a disability.
• The joys, perils and pitfalls of Hearing Voices.
• Medication - a magic wand?
• Exploring where Voices come from.
• Delusions and Hearing Voices.
• Coping strategies.
• The efficacy of a Self-Help Group.
• What is a Voice Hearing experience?
• Types of Voices and unusual experiences.
• Unusual experiences relating to the use of street drugs and alcohol.

Cannabis & Psychosis: Exploring The Link - Schizophrenia Society of Canada

Cannabis and Psychosis: Exploring the Link is a project of the Schizophrenia Society of Canada. Guided by the expertise of our Youth Advisory Committee, Content Advisors and Scientific Advisors, theyu aim to create a hub for youth to access and engage with information about cannabis and mental health that is balanced and meets their needs. Guided by the expertise of the Youth and Scientific Advisors, the aim of the project is to create a hub for accessible, engaging, balanced information to promote informed decision making about cannabis use among youth, specifically in relation to mental health.

Causes of Schizophrenia - Living With Schizohrenia

Causes of Schizophrenia - Schizophrenia.Com

Causes of Schizophrenia - Schizophrenic.com

• Causes of Schizophrenia

• Schizophrenia Is Caused By A Combination of Factors

• Signs That Serotonin Plays A Role In Schizophreni

Children, Young People & Schizophrenia - Intervoice - The International Hearing Voices Network

Choline During Pregnancy for Schizophrenia Prevention - Schizophrenia.Com

Clinical Depression - Schizophrenia Society of New Brunswick

Cognitive Signs & Symptoms of Schizophrenia - The Schizophrenia Library

Cognition signs and symptoms include a lack of function mental actions or processes such as attention, memory, planning, problem solving, and social cognition. Research into cognition in people with schizophrenia has found anomalies across a range of thought processes, which interfere with the individual’s ability to function. 

• Attention

• Cognition in high-risk groups

• Cognition in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder

• Cognitive functioning related to symptoms

• Decision Making

• Defeatist performance beliefs are over-generalised negative thoughts about one’s ability to successfully perform goal-directed behaviour. This prevents the initiation of and engagement in social and employment opportunities and therefore is considered a possible contributing factor to negative symptoms and poor functional outcomes.

• Episodic future thinking refers to thought processes that contribute to the mental construction, imagination or simulation of possible future events. Episodic future thinking plays a role in planning, problem-solving, coping, regulating emotional states and goal-motivated behaviour.

• Executive functions are a group of cognitive processes involving control, mental flexibility, planning, inhibition, decision-making, initiation, abstraction, self-monitoring and pursuit of goals. Any impairment in executive functioning can also reflect impairments in other cognitive functions such as processing speed, attention, and memory. 

• Impulsivity is a predisposition towards unplanned reactions to internal or external stimuli, without regard to the consequences, which is a major feature in a variety of psychiatric disorders.

• Information processing involves a number of cognitive functions (including perception, attention, memory, decision making and the speed at which these cognitive functions are executed with impairments in information processing reflecting impairments in these other cognitive domains.

• Insight is defined as the awareness of having a mental disorder including an understanding of the social consequences associated with the disorder; the need for treatment; the effects of medication; an awareness of the implications; and awareness of the signs and symptoms of the disorder. Insight is clinically important as it is linked to non-adherence of treatment, as patients who lack insight may not believe they have a psychotic illness and therefore do not believe they need medication.

• IQ: moderate to high quality evidence finds a large effect of lower IQ in people with schizophrenia, including people with first-episode, youth-onset, or late-onset schizophrenia, with late-onset samples showing the greatest impairment.

• Language may be altered in people with schizophrenia and may present in the form of disorganised speech. 

• Learning: people with schizophrenia have poorer verbal learning, verbal memory, verbal paired associate learning and verbal recognition. Learning is the ability to acquire, or change, existing knowledge, behaviours or skills.

• Memory: people with schizophrrenia have poorer short-term, long-term, working, episodic, prospective, and memory binding in people with schizophrenia. Memory involves encoding, storage and retrieval of information.

• Metacognition refers to ‘thinking about thinking’ and involves active control over the cognitive processes engaged in thinking and acquiring knowledge or learning. Negative beliefs about thoughts (e.g. uncontrollability and dangerousness) and more cognitive confidence (confidence in one’s memory and attentional capabilities) have been absorbed in people with psychotic disorders.

• Psychomotor ability refers to a wide range of actions involving physical movement with poor psychomotor ability in people with schizophrenia, including people with first-episode schizophrenia, or early onset schizophrenia.

• Reasoning Ability refers to the ability to logically gather information to form conclusions and solve problems. People with schizophrenia may show impaired reasoning, with bias in the way they gather information, interpret events and develop beliefs. 

• Rigidity is an inability to change mental or behavioural sets when required (i.e. behavioural, cognitive or attitudinal) and plays a large affect in people with disabilities. 

• Social Cognition: people with schizophrenia often have impaired social perception, emotion perception, emotion processing, impaired social knowledge, biological motion processing, and empathetic abilities.

• Time perception involves the capacity to accurately process temporal information that is embedded in relevant events with the ability to perceive, remember, and organise behaviour in periods ranging from seconds to minutes mediates functions, from basic motor coordination to decision making in people with schizophrenia.

• Tone Perception: low-level sensory functioning may be impaired in people with schizophrenia and may contribute to higher-order cognitive and social impairments. Tone perception involves pitch discrimination, 

• Visuospatial ability refers to a person’s capacity to identify visual and spatial relationships among objects with poor global visuospatial ability often appearing in people with schizophrenia

Communities & Collectives - Hearing Voices: Suffering, Inspiration & The Everyday

Communities and Collectives is a section of the exhibition co-curated with Paul Baker, social media co-ordinator for Intervoice.

Community Living (Housing Program) - Schizophrenia Society of Nova Scotia

Community Living (Housing Program) is a program supports people living with mental illness to live in the community. Through the support of a coordinator and a team of volunteers, they link individuals with a safe living arrangement pairing them with roommates and provide ongoing support. The eventual goal of completing the program is to live independently in the community with the right support and wellness plan.

Comorbidities with Shizophrenia - The Schizophrenia Library

• Anxiety

• ADHD

• Autism

• Depression

• Dissociative Disorders

• Intellectual Disability

• Personality Disorders

• Polydipsia

• PTSD

• Substance Use

• Drug & Alcohol Use

• Smoking

• Auditory system dysfunction: people with schizophrenia may show increased rates of unrelated co-occurring dysfunction of the auditory system or structural abnormalities of the ear canal.

• Autoimmune diseases: people with schizophrenia may show increased rates of autoimmune diseases are caused by an overactive immune system.

• Blood disorders: people with schizophrenia may show increased rates of co-occurring conditions disorders of the blood such as leukocytosis (excess leukocytes), hypokalemia (reduced potassium), and neutropenia (low neutrophil levels).

• Cancer

• Cerebrovascular Disorder

• Dementia

• Diabetes

• Digestive Disorders: people with schizophrenia may show increased rates of co-occurring conditions, including appendicitis, gastric ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, or celiac disease.

• Epilepsy

• Infectious Disabilities

• Metabolic Syndromes

• Musculoskeletal and connective tissues

• Obesity: people with a severe mental illness are at increased risk of obesity, which may be due to genetic and/or socio-economic factors, lifestyle choices, or metabolic effects of psychotropic medications. 

• Peripheral vascular disease

• Polycistic ovary syndrome

• Postoperative complications

• Reproductive and urological disorders

• Respiratory system dysfunction

• Skin Disorders

• Sleep Apnoea

• Thyroid Disorders

• Underweight

• Visual Impairment

Complementary Medicine - Hearing Voices Network Autearoa New Zealand

Conferences - Jacqui Dillon

Jacqui Dillon is an experienced and accomplished public speaker. I have spoken at numerous national and international conferences and events for both statutory and non-government organisations. She has been a keynote speaker at a variety of events on a diverse range of subjects. Her specialist areas of expertise are:

• Personal experiences of ‘madness’ and recovery
• Hearing voices and ‘psychosis’
• Critiquing biomedical approaches to madness and distress
• Trauma and abuse
• Ritual abuse
• Dissociation and multiplicity

Consultancy - Jacqui Dillon

Jacqui Dillon can offer her unique perspective of working with and making sense of profound distress and extreme states of mind and the impact it has on individuals, teams and organizations. She also have extensive experience in working collaboratively, creatively and in partnership with disempowered and disenfranchised individuals and groups to bring about sustained and lasting improved positive outcomes. Jacqui has provided coaching and mentoring, supervision and consultancy to individuals, teams and organisations.

Coping Strategies - Hearing Voices Network Autearoa New Zealand

Coping Strategies to Deal With Hearing Voices - Understanding Voices

Coping strategies are practical techniques that can help us to manage day-to-day life. Voice Collective identify six different types of coping strategy:

• Safety strategies: designed to help you feel calmer, safer and more secure. Useful if your voices threaten you, or make you feel scared or anxious.
• Blocking strategies: can help you block out the voices or make them seem quieter and further away. Useful if you need a break from your experiences or want to concentrate on something else.
• Empowering strategies: designed to change the power balance between you and the voices. Can help you feel more in control of your experiences.
• Expressive strategies: useful when you want to express your feelings and the experiences you are going through. Can be carthartic and/or a way of letting off steam.
• Compassionate strategies: can help you to be kinder to yourself when you’re distressed by your voices, emotions or other difficult experiences. May also involve being compassionate towards the voices themselves.
• Connection strategies: helpful if you’re feeling isolated and alone, or disconnected from yourself, your body or the world in general

We all rely on coping strategies when dealing with difficult emotions, situations or relationships. Some people who get anxious using public transport might listen to music or audiobooks as a means of distraction. Others who are afraid of being in confined spaces might practice deep breathing or visualisation exercises to reduce the feeling of panic. This is a coping strategy toolkit which contains some ideas to get you started: 

• Compassion
• Being With Animals
• Challenging the Voices
• Filtering the Voices
• Interrupting the Voices
• Setting Boundaries with the Voices
• Taking It One Step At A Time
• Preparing In Advance
• Identifying Patterns & Cycles
• Connecting With Others
• Creating Visualising
• Grounding Objects
• Praying
• Creative Visualisation
• Getting Out in Nature
• Social Media
• Getting Creative
• Keeping Busy
• Listening to Music
• Listening to Podcasts or Audiobooks
• Making Noise
• TV or Gaming
• Identifying Patterns or Cycles
• Interpreting The Voices
• Medication
• Mindfulness
• Walking
• Soothing Pictures & Clips
• Taking Care Of Yourself
• Reminding Yourself of Your Strengths
• Grounding Techniques

Coping Strategy Toolkit - Hearing The Voice

The Coping Strategy Toolkit provides different coping strategy ideas that we have collected through talking with voice-hearers, their friends and families.

• Blocking
• Compassion
• Connection
• Empowerment
• Expression
• Safety

Covid-19 - Schizophrenia Society of Nova Scotia

Creativity & Voices - Intervoice - The International Hearing Voices Network

Crisis Services - Understanding Voices

Crisis services are for people feeling hopeless, suicidal or at risk of harm, immediate help and support.

1. Emergency Services
2. Listening Services
3. Questions
4. Coping in the Moment
5. Crisis houses and services offer intensive, short-term support, usually in a community or residential setting, as opposed to a hospital setting. They can be run by NHS services, independent organisations or charities. Crisis houses or services might offer out of hours support or overnight stays.

D-Alanine for Schizophrenia - Schizophrenia.Com

D-serine for Schizophrenia - Schizophrenia.Com

Dance Movement Therapy - Schizophrenia Awareness Association (SAA)

Dance Movement Therapy (DMT) Project was launched in SAA in August 2014. At SAA they use modern dance, folk dance and classical dance. For e g in Kathak one needs to tap hard on the floor which leads to release of anger from the mind. Similarly the body movements and facial expresses in Mohiniattom helps clients overcome all their emotions. The circular and interlock movements in Modern Dance help the Clients to feel united and move freely with other people. 

Day Rehabilitation Centre - Schizophrenia Awareness Association (SAA)

SAA runs a Day Rehabilitation Centre at Dhayari in Pune. In a homelike, peaceful, green environment, clients receive therapeutic day care and participate in rehabilitation related programmes. The Centre, spread over 5 levels, has a large yoga hall, activity rooms, library, committee room, counseling room, respite room, dinning area, kitchen, lounge, auditorium, jogging track and other facilities. Various activities and therapies are conducted by clinical psychologists and experienced volunteers. Clients, unable to commute on their own are provided pickup and drop facility.

Clients attending the Centre are helped to relearn the forgotten skills and build their capacity to perform various skills. They are encouraged to lead the activities to build their confidence and to develop leadership, group management and planning skills. While a few of the activities like jogging and  yoga are common for all, a few more are planned for clients individually keeping in view the nature and intensity of their illness, area of interest, personal capacity, education, age, understanding and skill. Activities carried out at the centre include:

• Vocational: Madhubani, Warli, Glass Painting, Emboss Painting, Block Painting, Diwali lamps, lamp Shades, Origami, Murals, Wall Frames, Paper Bags, Envelops, Tie and Dye, Wood Flowers, Soft Toys, Jewelry Making, Greeting Cards, Wall Pieces,Show Pieces, Door Hangings, Handkerchiefs, Napkins, Cushions, Table Covers, Bed Covers, Spice Powders, Chocolates, Olive Candies, Sauces, pickles, Paper Cups, Cotton Carding, soaps, Detergent Powder, Cleansing Material.
• Therapeutic: group Reading-Newspapers and Books, Monitored Group Discussions and Insight Orientation, Free Hand Drawing and Painting, Coloring Shapes, Pasting, Collage, Singing, Instrument Playing, Drum Beating, Dance Movements, Motor Movement, Facial Expressions, Body Movements, Art Based Therapy, Diary Writing,
• Skill Development: computers, Spoken English, Speech Delivery, Group Discussions, Money Handling, Cooking and Hand writing.
• Mind and Body: self Care, Yoga, Pranayama, Aerobics, Gardening, Jogging, Outdoor Games, Indoor Games such as Dice Game, Train Game, Thumb and Coin Game, Cultural Programmes, Excursions.

In addition to the above activities, regular counseling sessions are held for all the service users and assessments are done using Positive and Negative Rating Scale and IDEA Scale. The families are kept informed of the progress and invited for discussions. Individual files are maintained for each client. The counselors manage occasional crisis situations which develop due to the nature of illness. User survivors get paid for the items prepared by them in their activity programmes and also the profits earned on sale are distributed among them.

The clients attending regularly are benefited by the therapeutic programmes and show considerable improvement over a period. As observed by the staff and volunteers and confirmed by caregivers and also revealed by idea scale, the symptoms come down substantially and their participation in activities at the Centre and attending to chores at their respective homes goes up. The activities at the Centre help in restoring confidence and money earned from sundry jobs done at the Centre, incentives earned for behavioral modifications and the articles made and sold gives them a sense of achievement and empowerment. Their leading the activities and taking sessions builds their confidence and equips them for employment. Getting paid for their work and helping others enhances their self-esteem. There are success stories; some have found employment; some have joined family business, some have started their own venture.

Clients coming to the Centre rediscover their own identity in an environment, where their actions are not criticized, where there is warmth and empathy and where there is no stigma. Rehabilitation programmes at the Centre help clients with complex mental health problems to regain cognitive, emotional, social, intellectual and physical skills needed to live, learn, work and function independently in the community with least interference from the symptoms. Rehabilitation remains a continuous process at the Centre. The ultimate goal is to make the clients independent in all aspects of their lives, financial, social, relationships building and maintaining.

Diagnostic Testing in Schizophrenia - The Schizophrenia Library

• Electroencephalography (EEG) uses electrodes on the scalp to measure electrical activity from the brain. Quantitative spectral EEG investigates several waveforms, and so the activity can be measured, but EEG also gives rise to event related potentials (ERP), which measure the EEG activity directly evoked by a stimulus, often using cognitive or perceptual stimuli.
• Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is used to determine functional activation of brain regions when an individual performs tasks (or rests) inside an MRI scanner. Most commonly fMRI studies use visual, auditory, motor or sensory stimuli to evoke neural responses in the brain. Recent fMRI studies also examine activity of the brain at rest. Changes in blood flow are interpreted to represent brain activation (or deactivation) associated with a particular brain state (i.e, while performing a particular activity, or while the brain is at rest). Functional activity has been investigated in people with schizophrenia compared to people without schizophrenia to identify regions of increased or decreased brain function on the basis of blood flow.

• Magnetoencephalography (MEG) uses a helmet-shaped device containing MEG sensors (gradiometers) to noninvasively measure the magnetic fields produced by neural activity of the brain. MEG is able to localise the source of neural activity to particular brain regions, represented as positive and negative charges (dipoles), with greater accuracy than EEG, which is a measure of the electrical fields produced by neural activity. MEG can be used to measure continuous resting-state brain activity (spontaneous MEG), but also to assess event-related changes in brain activity. 

• Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive method that assesses inhibitory and excitatory mechanisms in the brain. Inhibitory processes include the cortical silent period, which is measured from the motor evoked potential onset to the return of electromyography.

• Computed tomography (CT): is a method for visualising the structural organisation of the brain using the attenuation of X-rays to generate image contrast. Tissues in regions of interest are highlighted based on their X-ray absorption properties, as dense tissues attenuate X-rays more than soft tissues, and air attenuates the least. Three-dimensional images are generated from a series of two-dimension X-ray images taken around a single axis of rotation.

• Optical coherence tomography (OCT):  is an imaging technology that assesses the thickness of the peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer, macular thickness, and volume. It has been used to assess neurologic diseases such as multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease, and more recently, schizophrenia.

• Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI): DTI is a specialised imaging technique that uses MRI technology to investigate the movement of water within tissues of interest. By applying a magnetic field, the movement (“diffusivity”) of water molecules can be visualised in vivo. The diffusion of water is influenced by the cellular structure of the surrounding tissues, and measures such as fractional anisotropy (FA) were derived as an approximate measurement for the freedom of movement. In areas of high structural coherence such as white matter, FA is highest, indicating that water is moving in relatively fixed directions. It is lower in grey matter, and close to zero in cerebrospinal fluid, indicating that water is moving freely. Consequently, changes in FA values are interpreted to be representing alterations in the structural integrity of the regional white matter.

DSM 5 & Psychiatric Diagnosis - English Hearing Voices Network

The Hearing Voices Network, alongside many of our professional allies in psychology and psychiatry, has serious concerns about the way we currently understand, categorise and respond to mental distress . We also recognise the confusion that can be caused when accepted facts, often presented to service users as truths, are challenged. Thery believe that people with lived experience of diagnosis must be at the heart of any discussions about alternatives to the current system. People who use services are the true experts on how those services could be developed and delivered; they are the ones that know exactly what they need, what works well and what improvements need to be made. This statement outlines the main issues, as we see them, and invites people on the receiving end of a diagnosis to have a voice in this debate.

Early Career Award Program - Schizophrenia International Research Society (SIRS)

The Early Career Award (formerly Travel Award) program is intended to sponsor individuals who have, through their research, teaching or clinical activities, demonstrated a professional and scientific interest in the field of schizophrenia research. Candidates must indicate their interest in schizophrenia research and, if possible, provide evidence of continuing and future involvement and activity in the field. Individuals must be graduate students, residents, fellows, or new/young faculty members who have completed their last training within 5 years. Candidates who are members of an ethnic minority group underrepresented in biomedical science areas are strongly encouraged to apply.

Awardees are required to submit a poster/oral presentation abstract. It is the belief of the Society that the opportunity to attend its scientific meeting will stimulate the interest of young scientists in schizophrenia research by affording them the opportunity to attend an outstanding scientific program in clinical and basic research. The program will also allow awardees the opportunity to become aware of the most recent, and often unpublished, advances in schizophrenia research, meet internationally distinguished researchers and clinicians, and interact with world authorities working on the frontier of this field.

Early Detection of Schizophrenia - The Schizophrenia Library

Early detection refers to the correct identification of individuals who are at high risk of developing schizophrenia, with an emphasis on the development of frank psychosis. Several assessment tools have been constructed to effectively identify such individuals. Sensitivity of an assessment tool refers to the proportion of people who develop psychosis that were previously identified by the assessment tool as being at high risk. Specificity is the proportion of people who do not develop psychosis that were previously identified as not being at high risk. Assessment tools therefore aim to have both high sensitivity and high specificity. Generally, there are two approaches that dictate the characteristics used as markers for detection.

• The ultra-high risk approach focuses on a triad of at-risk mental states defined as:

1. Having a family history of psychosis plus non-specific symptoms and a recent decline in functioning
2. Showing recent onset of attenuated psychotic symptoms with a decline in functioning
3. Symptoms must be brief, intermittent and limited

• Huber’s Basic Symptoms: focus in a detailed way of describing subjective disturbances, and may be an earlier indicator of risk than the first approach.

the mean rate of transition to psychosis in those assessed as being at clinical high risk for psychosis is around 16% by 2 years and 29% by 3 years. In people assessed as being at clinical high risk of obsessive-compulsive disorder are at higher risk of psychosis than people assessed as being at clinical high risk of bipolar disorder, which in turn has higher risk of psychosis than people assessed as being at high risk of depression. However, the rate of transition to psychosis are only one third the rate of transition to non-psychotic disorders in people at assessed as being at clinical high risk for non-psychotic disorders.

In children and adolescents assessed as being at clinical high risk of psychosis, transition rates were between 17% and 20% by 1 year follow-up and between 7% and 21% by 2 year follow-up. 36% of children and adolescents recovered from their clinical high risk status by 6-year follow-up, and 40% continued to meet clinical high risk criteria without transition to psychosis.

Studies with older samples reported higher transition rates than studies with younger samples, and more recent publications reported lower transition rates than older publications. Studies using the basic symptoms approach reported higher transition rates than studies using the ultra-high risk approach. Studies of people receiving psychosocial treatments (e.g. cognitive behavioral therapy) reported lower transition rates than studies of people receiving standard care (e.g. case management). Studies of people on antipsychotics also reported lower transition rates than studies of people not on antipsychotics. Evidence suggests:

• Instruments based on ultra-high risk criteria have good sensitivity and moderate specificity. Moderate to low quality evidence also suggests the BSABS scale as good sensitivity and moderate specificity. This indicates validated instuments are generally good at correctly identifying individuals who do develop psychosis, but not as good at identifying individuals who do not develop psychosis.
• The model with the best predictive value (86%) for transition to psychosis was a clinical model including:

1. Odd beliefs
2. Marked impairment in role functioning
3. Blunted affect
4. Auditory hallucinations and
5. Anhedonia/asociality.

• A biological model using grey matter volume, and a neurocognitive model using IQ, verbal memory, executive functioning, attention, processing speed, and speech perception, both had positive predictive values of 83%.
• An environmental model with a positive predictive value of 63% involved urbanicity, social-sexual aspects, and social-personal adjustment.
• The best combination model had a positive predictive value of 82% and involved: 

1. Disorganised communication
2. Suspiciousness
3. Verbal memory deficit and
4. Decline in social functioning.

Early Intervention & First Episode Clinics - Schizophrenia and Related Disorders Alliance of America (SARDAA)

Early Intervention in Mental Health - International Early Psychosis Association (IEPA)

Early intervention (EI) in mental health is a simple concept drawing on a small number of principles: the prompt engagement, assessment and delivery of effective bio-psycho-social interventions to people at risk of or in the early stages of experiencing mental ill health, appropriate to the stage of their condition and their own developmental phase. Characteristics of EI include striving to minimise treatment delays and maximise the prospects of recovery, reliance on evidence-based, systemically (family) inclusive and diagnostically agnostic methods delivered through multidisciplinary, expert services; EI can encompass primary or indicated preventative approaches.

Most comprehensively developed for psychotic illnesses arising largely in the second and third decades of life EI draws on models used in other domains such as heart disease, stroke and cancer where early treatment is accepted as crucial, and shares strong evidence of individual and cost benefits. The recent change of our organisation’s name from the International Early Psychosis Association to IEPA: Early Intervention in Mental Health reflects our efforts to expand the approach beyond psychosis to other mental health disorders and to other stages of the life course.

Early Intervention in Psychiatry - International Early Psychosis Association (IEPA)

Early Intervention in Psychiatry focuses on the early diagnosis and treatment of all mental health problems and disorders and promotes the importance of early intervention in psychiatric practice. Articles across the full range of psychiatric disorders are welcomed, including schizophrenia and other psychoses, mood and anxiety disorders, substance use disorders, eating disorders and personality disorders, as well as the underlying epidemiological, biological, psychological and social mechanisms that influence the onset of these disorders. Papers in the following fields will be considered: diagnostic issues, psychopathology, clinical epidemiology, biological mechanisms, treatments and other forms of intervention, clinical trials, health services and economic research and mental health policy.

Early Intervention in Psychiatry publishes original research articles and reviews dealing with the early recognition, diagnosis and treatment across the full range of mental and substance use disorders, as well as the underlying epidemiological, biological, psychological and social mechanisms that influence the onset and early course of these disorders. The journal provides comprehensive coverage of early intervention for the full range of psychiatric disorders and mental health problems, including schizophrenia and other psychoses, mood and anxiety disorders, substance use disorders, eating disorders and personality disorders. Papers in any of the following fields are considered: diagnostic issues, psychopathology, clinical epidemiology, biological mechanisms, treatments and other forms of intervention, clinical trials, health services and economic research and mental health policy. Special features are also published, including hypotheses, controversies and snapshots of innovative service models.

In contrast with mainstream healthcare, early diagnosis and intervention has come late to the field of psychiatry. Early Intervention in Psychiatry creates a common forum for researchers and clinicians with an interest in the early phases of a wide range of disorders to share ideas, experience and data. This journal not only fills a gap, but also creates a new frontier in academic and clinical psychiatry.

Eight Stages of Healing - Manitoba Schizophrenia Society (MSS)

Eight Stages of Healing is a 10-week healing process supporting family members, friends and caregivers’ from living with someone living with a mental illness to develop a new way of coping. A place to go for education, support, share and grow to help heal yourself based on Julie Tallard Johnson’s book, “Hidden Victim, Hidden Healers”.
 

Emerging Groups - International Society for Psychological and Social Approaches to Psychosis (ISPS)

This is a list of people who are interested in / involved in setting up a local ISPS group in their country. The groups listed below are at different stages of development. If you would like to find out more information about ISPS in any of these countries please e-mail the contact person and copy your message to Antonia Svensson, 

Epidemiology of Schizophrenia - The Schizophrenia Library

A population perspective provides epidemiological estimations of the prevalence and incidence of schizophrenia in different populations and regions worldwide. This topic considers the history and burden of schizophrenia, and the implications of mental health laws and policies on the treatment and management of the disorder.

• Burden of Schizophrenia
• History of Schizophrenia
• Schizophrenia Policy & Law
• Overall Incidence of Schizophrenia: the worldwide incidence of schizophrenia and how it varies according to place.
• Spatial Incidence Variation of Schizophrenia
• Worldwide Incidence of Schizophrenia
• Prevalence of Schizophrenia
• Spatial Prevalence of Schizophrenia
• Worldwide Prevalence of Schizophrenia

Everyday Voices - Hearing Voices: Suffering, Inspiration & The Everyday

Experts by Experience Talks & Training - Action of Postpartum Psychosis (APP)

Action of Postpartum Psychosis have a number of Experts by Experience available to talk with health professionals at conferences and events - all women who have themselves experienced and recovered from postpartum psychosis (PP). Their Experts by Experience can:

• Share their personal experiences of PP
• Give talks and training to your health professionals, describing their symptoms, experience of treatment and recovery, what worked well for them and what did not, the impact on their relationship with their baby, family and friends
• Share the experience gained from supporting others. All of our experts have the breadth of knowledge that comes from supporting many other women and families with the condition (online, via email and in-person) and engaging with the health professionals in their area.

APP's Experts are robustly supported by APP. They have access to APP’s PP academic and clinical experts with international reputation, ensuring that they are well-informed and have up-to-date knowledge. Their experts by experience are supported by robust safeguarding protocols and quality assurance measures within the organisation.

Exploring Voices - Understanding Voices

Exploring Voices explores different ways of understanding voices, including psychological, neuroscientific, historical, literary and spiritual approaches. They also present information and resources for young people who hear voices, and consider some of the factors that make voices likely to occur in older adults.

• What is Hearing Voices?
• Why Do People Experience Voices?
• A History of Voices
• Voices & Spirituality
• Voices In Children & Adolescents
• Voices in Older Adults

Families & Schizophrenia - The Schizophrenia Library

Schizophrenia has a large genetic component and as such, families of people with schizophrenia may also be affected by the disorder. Schizophrenia has an impact on the family unit, and also cognitive and physiological alterations in relatives.

• Cognition in families related to schizophrenia: cognitive deficits have been reported in people with schizophrenia including deficits in memory, attention and executive functioning are most commonly reported, with lesser degree of dysfunction in perceptual and language processes. Cognitive deficits are present early in the course of the disorder and are stable over time, and may be heritable. First-degree relatives of people with schizophrenia may show attenuated signs of cognitive deficits.

• The collection of information relating to a person’s family history of mental illness can be a valuable tool for diagnosing and understanding their current mental state, in both clinical and research settings, where it may not be feasible to interview the family members themselves. A patient can usually correctly identify a particular family member with schizophrenia, if one exists.

• Familial coaggregation is the rate of related disorders found in a family. Many studies have suggested a fundamental association between schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. 

• Family relationships: several familial traits have been associated with increased risk for schizophrenia including familial high expressed emotion (hostility, emotional over-involvement, and critical comments); negative parental affective style (guilt induction, over-intrusiveness, and personal criticism); and communication deviance (lack of clarity in communication). People with schizophrenia may have had poor relationships with parents during childhood, with increased family instability, high communication deviance, negative emotions, and poor self-concept.

• Impact on families: a diagnosis of schizophrenia can have a large impact not only on the affected individuals, but also on the people closest to them. This topic considers the impact of schizophrenia on family members, and on the family as a unit. Sometimes the family of a person with schizophrenia may experience different types of burden, particularly during acute phases of the illness. 

• Physical anomalies in first-degree relatives: relatives of people with schizophrenia may show attenuated signs of the illness (such as physical features that are commonly identified with the disorder). Identifying these signs can help determine how genetics may contribute to the risk of schizophrenia.

• Psychopathology in first-degree relatives

• Sibship is a medical term meaning a group of individuals born of the same parents. Factors associated with sibship include birth order, number of siblings or number of births in the family, and inter-birth interval periods. It is not known how these factors may be associated with risk for schizophrenia. There is increased risk of schizophrenia in people who had one, four or five births in their family, or in children born less than 18 months before or after their closest sibling. First birth order may be associated with a reduced risk for schizophrenia.

Families as Partners in Care Program - World Fellowship for Schizophrenia and Allied Disorders

Families as Partners in Care Program is a strategy to promote the inclusion of families in the treatment team was developed by a WFSAD group of family leaders and clinical experts in New Zealand in 1997. Research indicates that better care, management and outcome is achieved for persons with mental illness when their families receive a continuum of education, training and support to carry out their role of primary informal care giver.

Families For Care - Schizophrenia and Related Disorders Alliance of America (SARDAA)

Families for Care (FFC) is a support group for families of diagnosed individuals with schizophrenia or schizophrenia-related brain illness. Schizophrenia-related illnesses are illnesses that include psychosis, such as schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, and major depression with psychosis. Family and Friends (Now Families for Care) was founded in 2008, and in that time, has reached thousands of families/friends seeking guidance and acceptance of individuals who experience psychosis. We offer a non-judgmental community of concern and fellow travelers. This journey is not for the faint of heart. But with education and acceptance, you can find your way to a more loving and peaceful home and relationship with your loved ones. And you’ll find hope, which is so vital for families with a loved one with illnesses that include psychosis.

Families Matter in Mental Health - Schizophrenia Society of Nova Scotia

Families Matter in Mental Health is an 11-week education and support program for family or friends who are providing practical and/or emotional support to someone who has a mental illness or mental illness and addiction. This program is delivered by trained facilitators, Nova Scotia Health Authority (NSHA) clinicians, and trained family members. Topics include:

• Information on a wide variety of mental illnesses and addictions
• Communication skills
• Problem solving
• Crisis management
• Relapse prevention
• Coping strategies
• Resources
• Recovery self care
• Mental health and addictions services.

The program is offered in a variety of locations in the province in the spring and fall.
 

Family & Friends - Open The Doors

• Family & Friends
• Message to Caregivers
• Facts
• Myths
• Causes of Schizophrenia
• How the Brain Operates Differently
• Stepping Stones for Recovery
• Reintegration
• Schizophrenia at School
• Links to Resources

Family & Friends of Voice Hearers - Understanding Voices

Being the parent, family member or friend of someone who hears voices can be a complex experience – in turns bewildering, worrying and painful, but also, for some, an affirmation of their own strength and resilience. In this module, we explore the personal perspectives of people whose loved ones hear voices. We cover a range of different topics, including what you can do to support someone when they are distressed by their voices, and what you can do to seek support for yourself.

• As a Parent, Family Member or Carer
• As a Sibling
• Carers Hub
• As A Friend
• As a child or adult child of a parent who hears voices

Family and Caregiver Schizophrenia Discussion Forum - Schizophrenia.Com

Family and Caregiver Schizophrenia Discussion Forum is a support and discussion forum for people who are family members or caregivers of someone who has have been diagnosed with schizophrenia, or who might have schizophrenia (or who have a closely related disorder or symptoms, or who suffer from hearing voices).

Family Education and Support Group - Schizophrenia Society of Nova Scotia

Family Education and Support Group is a peer-led trained and facilitated by family/supporters with lived experience of a loved one living with a mental health illness. Groups are two hours in length and welcome all: family, friends, and co-workers. There are no restrictions on who can attend. Topics include:

• All aspects of emergency care
• Treatments
• Self-care
• Stress management
• Self-stigma
• Financial support and
• All conditions affecting people supporting someone with lived experience.

Family Meetings - Manitoba Schizophrenia Society (MSS)

One-on-one or full family meetings to provide support, discuss access to mental health services and mental health system navigation. Also find accurate information on early psychosis, schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder.
Appointments available on request.

Family Peer Support Group - Manitoba Schizophrenia Society (MSS)

Family Peer Support Group is an open support group, for families and friends of those experiencing early psychosis, schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder that is held monthly.

For more information email  or call

Family Respite Program - British Columbia Schizophrenia Society

B.C. Schizophrenia Society’s Family Respite Program provides essential reprieve to people caring for a loved one with a mental illness. Mental health professionals perform short-term care, so unpaid primary caregivers can go on holiday or simply take a few hours for themselves. The Family Respite Program may also be able to provide assistance when a caregiver is ill, or otherwise unable to function in a caregiving capacity. Home visits are an option for caregivers who require extra assistance or professional expertise during a rough patch. By making it possible for them to take much-needed breaks, the program helps caregivers gain the strength and energy they require to care for their loved ones.

Family Support Groups - British Columbia Schizophrenia Society

Family Support Groups offers support groups throughout B.C. for family and friends who are supporting a loved one living with mental illness. These groups provide a safe and supportive environment for family and friends to learn about mental illness, ask questions and connect with other caregivers. With the support of HereToHelp, B.C. Schizophrenia Society provides a province-wide calendar of support groups for family and friends of people with mental illness. In addition to family support groups, this calendar lists information sessions, meet and greets, caregiver support, educational workshops and more. Groups, sessions and events are searchable by region or date, with many being offered on a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly basis. 

Famous People and Schizophrenia - Schizophrenia.Com

Famous People Who Hear Voices - English Hearing Voices Network

Famous People Who Hear Voices is a page of famous and noted people have spoken about their voice-hearing experiences in the media. 

Famous People Who Hear Voices - Intervoice - The International Hearing Voices Network

FAQs - Schizophrenia Society of Newfoundland and Labrador

Frequently Asked Questions About Schizophrenia - The Schizophrenia Library

• What is schizophrenia and how is it diagnosed?

• Which risk factors are associated with schizophrenia?

• Which treatments are most effective?

• Will family members be affected?

• Would my treatment change if I also have another disorder?

Frequently Asked Questions and Answers - Schizophrenia.Com

Frequently Asked Questions and Answers is rthe questions commonly posted on our discussion boards, along with answers and advice from responding members. In many cases, member answers have been expanded on from other sources, and relevant links have been addedfor more information. These answers are meant only as a helpful guide and a resource for further information; each individual situation is unique and may need a tailored solution. Your treating psychiatrist is always a good person to ask when you have specific questions pertaining to your own case.

From Recovery to Discovery - Schizophrenia Society of Nova Scotia

From Recovery to Discovery is a peer-led and peer education support group are inclusive to all with lived experience of a mental health illness. The group moves beyond diagnosis to purpose and empowerment. 

Functional Changes in Schizophrenia - The Schizophrenia Library

Brain functional alterations are investigated by using imaging technologies such as functional magnetic resonance imaging and electroencephalogram, and by assessing physical anomalies such as changes in chemical levels and bodily functions.

• Body functioning: changes in body functioning in people with schizophrenia, including movement and sleep disturbances.
• Biochemical changes: changes in biochemical levels in people with schizophrenia that may indicate markers for the disorder and can provide insights into improved drug treatments.
• Cerebral blood flow and metabolism: functional changes in the way the brains of people with schizophrenia are supplied with blood, and how nutrients are provided to cells.
• Electrophysiology: voltage changes or electric current in brain cells and tissue of people with schizophrenia.
• Brain structure: alterations in the brain structure of people with schizophrenia
• Bodily features: structural anomalies in bodily features in people with schizophrenia.
• Brain Regions: changes according to specific regions of the brain.

Getting Help & Support - English Hearing Voices Network

Getting Help for Paranoia - Paranoid Thoughts

Paranoid Thoughts recommend reading Overcoming Paranoid and Suspicious Thoughts. This provides extensive information to help people understand exaggerated or unrealistic suspiciousness. Further, six practical steps are provided to help people cope with such fears. However, people sometimes want to consider other sources of help - perhaps seeing a therapist or trying medication. Or sometimes people simply want to find out a bit more about the issues.

So how do we know when it's right to ask for professional help?

There's no cut and dried answer to this one, but basically it boils down to:

• How much distress the thoughts are causing
• How much disruption the thoughts are causing on work, relationships, activities, or quality of life

If you do decide to seek professional help, it's crucial that you find the right person. If you think your GP doesn't understand paranoid thoughts and their treatment, ask to be referred to a specialist. It's relatively easy to get knowledgeable advice on medication, but harder to find someone with specialist psychological knowledge. In this section there is information on Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) & Medication.

Government Agencies - Schizophrenia and Related Disorders Alliance of America (SARDAA)

HaVeN Community Cafe - Hearing Voices Network Dundee

HaVeN Community Cafe is a cafe run by our volunteers who work together to provide good food at affordable prices to all our visitors. They also offer teas, coffees, juices, toasties, hot and cold rolls to name a few and are always looking for suggestions on what we can offer. Above all, our Cafe serves to bring our community together, whether for a chat, a safe space to sit awhile or just for something tasty to get you through the day.

HaVeN Training Pathways - Hearing Voices Network Dundee

HaVeN training pathways is a project which aims to support voice hearings through a variety of training opportunities designed to enhance their skills, confidence and mental wellbeing whilst also providing support to others. The training can also be undertaken by non-voice hearers who wish to continue building on or learn how to support others as well as those who are planning on or are currently studying/working in the care sector. The project has been split into phases, at the moment the project is in ‘Phase One’ which has a focus of Personal Development and Recovery. Topics in Phase One are expected to include:

• Knowing Myself
• Hidden Talents
• Personal Narratives
• Non-Violent communications
• Healthy Relationships
• Boundaries
• Recovery
• Finding Personal Meaning in Voices

Also as part of Phase One, we are planning to create Ambassadors of recovery who are to build awareness and social acceptance for voice hearers and work to reduce and eventually remove the stigma that surrounds voice hearing and those who experience it. HaVeN will connect with local organizations, universities and other public sector organizations in Dundee and offer awareness raising workshops that could include simulation voice hearing and sharing personal recover stories of voice hearers who have benefited from HaVeNs services as well as found acceptance and validation.

Healthy Minds - Mind in Camden

Healthy Minds is a Mind in Camden Project aimed at supporting adults who may be struggling with their mental health, feeling isolated or disconnected with their community, or would like some additional support in finding out what their local area has to offer them. The Programme has partnered with a range of different community providers to offer our participants free access to workshops, courses and group activities, to support people living in Camden to improve their wellbeing. They can offer 1:1 sessions with trained Navigators to help people to identify their interests, uncover passions and to plan and pursue their goals and 1:1 sessions with sports buddied to support your physical fitness goals. Once registered with Healthy Minds participants will have access to up to 12 months of activities which you can use to tailor your own personal schedule. For those who are interested in furthering your education or skills, we can provide financial support for courses at The Mary Ward Adult Education Centre.

Hearing Voices Groups - Voices Vic

Hearing Voices Groups provide a welcoming space for voice hearers to share what it’s like to hear voices, learn new coping strategies, and explore ways to make sense of voices and to change the relationship with voices. Voice hearers attending groups report feeling less alone, are better able to live with their voices, and often say that there is no other space like this available. Groups can be facilitated by workers, voice hearers or a combination of both. Hearing Voices groups include:

• Ballarat/Grampians: Thursday Fortnightly (1.00pm – 3.00pm) - Wendouree Neighbourhood House, 12-14 Violet GroveKaz - 0433 907 914
• Camperdown: Tuesdays (2.30pm – 4.00pm) 64 Scott Street Camperdown - Jaqui Clarke - 03 5593 6000
• Footscray Youth Group: Phoenix Youth Centre - 72 Buckley Street, FootscrayNote: Run by Cohealth Youth ResiGayle - 03 9448 5504
• Prahran: Thursday (2.00pm – 3.00pm) - Level 2, 211 Chapel Street, Prahran (Williams Room) - 03 9692 9528
• St Kilda: Wednesday (12.30pm-1.30pm) - Engagement Hub - 101 Carlisle Street - 03 9692 9528
• South Yarra: 4th Monday of every month (4:30pm-6pm) - Suite J, 450 Chapel St, South Yarra - 03 9826 1422

Hearing Voices Groups & Paranoia & Beliefs Groups - London Hearing Voices Project

London Hearing Voices Network (LHVN) incorporates Paranoia & Beliefs into their program to provide ongoing support to the network of:

• 30 Hearing Voices Groups and
• 15 Paranoia & Beliefs Groups 

This includes providing training courses and networking events for facilitators with the aim of helping increase the sustainability of well-facilitated Hearing Voices Groups, promote their benefits and help signpost individuals to groups in their local area. Hearing Voices Groups and Paranoia Beliefs Groups in Greater London include:

• Mind in Bexley Hearing Voices Group is a group open to anyone living in Bexley that usually runs for eight weeks followed by a two week break. They meet @ Milton House, 240A Broadway, Bexleyheath, DA6 8AS on Wednesdays 3:45pm-4:45pm - 020 8303 5816 - pfisher@mindbexley.org.au
• Hestia Hearing Voices Group is a closed group @ Ashford Place 60 Ashford Road London NW2 6TU
• Parallel Views (Bromley & Lewisham Mind): is a group open to anyone living or working in London on Thursdays 2:00pm-4:00pm @ Anchor House, Station Rd, Orpington BR6 0RZ - 07841 206710 - david.holmes@blmind.org.au 
• Bromley Hearing Voices Group is a group open to anyone living in Bromley on Wednesdays, 10:15am–11:45am @ Bromley Common Baptist Church, Gravel Road, Bromley, BR2 8PE - 01689 811 222 - stuarttight@hotmail.com
• Positive Connections (Camden & Islington MH Trust): a group opened to those receiving a service from Camden & Islington MHTrust fortnightly on Wednesdays at 11.30am-12.30pm @ Peckwater Centre, 6 Peckwater Street, NW5 2UP - 07771 872 923 - jill.chadwick@candi.nhs.uk
• My Beliefs (Mind in Camden): a group open to anyone free of charge regardless of borough on Thursdays 5:00pm-6:00pm - 020 7241 8991 - referrals@mindcamden.org.uk
• The Craze (St Mungo’s) is a closed group on alternative Tuesdays from 11:30am-1:00pm @ Adamson Road, 33-35, NW3 3HT - 07736 886 959 - Matthew.Blakemore@mungoadway.org.au
• Pulse (St Mungo’s) is a closed group on alternative Tuesdays from 11:30am-1:00pm @ 180 Haverstock Hill, London NW3 2AL - 07736 886 959 - Matthew.Blakemore@mungoadway.org.au
• Mind in Camden Mixed Hearing Voices Group a group open to anyone free of charge regardless of borough on Tuesdays from Tuesdays, 12:00pm–1:00pm @ Barnes House, 9-15 Camden Rd, NW1 9LQ - 020 7241 8991 - referrals@mindcamden.org.uk
• Mind in Camden Women’s Hearing Voices & Unusual Beliefs Group is a group open to anyone free of charge regardless of borough on Tuesdays from Fridays from 2:00pm-3.15pm @ Barnes House, 9-15 Camden Rd, NW1 9LQ - 020 7241 8991 - referrals@mindcamden.org.uk
• Voices Forum of Croydon (Rethink Mental Illness) is a group open to people from all boroughs as it is OK to just turn up, but best to call first in case an activity is planned @ Croydon Old Town Hall, Katharine St, Croydon CR9 1ET - 0208 464 7052 - voicesforumofcroydon@googlemail.com
• C.A.P.E. Hearing Voices Group is an open group to members of CAPE, after receiving a referral on Wednesday from 2:00pm-3:00pm - 020 8896 2552 - tracey@capeproject.org.uk
• Mind in Enfield Hearing Voices Group is a group open to those living in either in Enfield or Haringey @ Greenwich Mind, 54 Ormiston Road, London, SE10 0LN on Mondays from 12:30pm-1.30pm - 020 8887 1480 - Sufia.Rahman@Mind-In-Enfield.org.au
• Greenwich Mind Hearing Voices Group is a group primarily for Greenwich residents on Wednesdays from 10.00am-11.30am - 020 8853 2395
• South Recovery Team Hearing Voices Group is a group available to service users of the West London Mental Health Trust/LBHF South Recovery Team on Wednesday from 11:00am-12:00pm @ The Star Room, St Andrew’s Church, Greyhound Road London W14 9SA - 020 7386 1275 - catherine.muller@wlmht.nhs.uk
• Clarendon Cafe Paranoia & Beliefs Group is a group open to anyone on Tuesdays 14.00pm-15.15pm @ Clarendon Road, Hornsey, London N8 0DJ - 020 8489 4860 - Lesslian.jat@haringey.gov.uk
• WhyFI (Rethink Mental Illness) is a group open to those living in Harrow only on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays from 12.30pm–1.30pm @ The Bridge, Christchurch Avenue, Harrow, HA3 5BD - 020 8427 8528 - nicole.busz@rethink.org.
• Wellbeing Network Hounslow Hearing Voices Group is a group open to people from all boroughs with no referral required every 1st and 3rd Thursday from 1:00pm-2:00pm @ The Arts Centre (dance studio), 1st Floor, Treaty Shopping Centre, Hounslow, TW3 1ES - 07834 388022 - kevin.fulliscks@whmht.uhs.uk

Hearing Voices of Support - Schizophrenia and Related Disorders Alliance of America (SARDAA)

Positive voices of support can make a difference to people affected by schizophrenia and related brain disorders. Their perception-changing Hearing Voices of Support interactive art installation, featuring the voices and images of people affected by schizophrenia-related brain disorders was a huge success

Hearing Voices That are Distressing Simulated Workshop - Manitoba Schizophrenia Society (MSS)

Hearing Voices That are Distressing Simulated Workshop is a simulated workshop that promotes a greater understanding and awareness of the “hearing voices” experience. Pre-registration in groups of 14-20 participants, or individual requests can be accommodated via phone.

Hearing Voices While At Work or Study - Understanding Voices

Hearing voices can impact (both positively and negatively) on an individual’s ability to meet the demands of a job or to study at school or University. Working or studying can also influence the frequency with which voices occur and the content of what they say. In these pages, we explore different personal accounts of what it’s like to hear voices while working or studying, some strategies and techniques that people use to help them cope, and the rights and reasonable adjustments that voice-hearers may be entitled to from their employer or education provider.

• Hearing Voices at Work
• Hearing Voices While Studying
• Rights & Reasonable Adjustments
• Benefits & Financial Assistance

Hearing Voices: suffering, inspiration and the everyday - Hearing The Voice

Hearing Voices: suffering, inspiration and the everyday is the world’s first exhibition to explore voice-hearing from personal, scientific, cultural, literary and theological perspectives.  The exhibition is the result of a collaboration between Durham University’s Palace Green Library and Hearing the Voice – a large interdisciplinary study of voice-hearing funded by the Wellcome Trust. It was produced in close partnership with voice-hearers, their families and allies, who were involved in the project as contributing artists, co-curators and advisors. This website contains images of:

• The key displays
• Podcasts
• Touring Information
• Interactive presentations and
• Useful resources 
• Listen Up

In Crisis - Hearing The Voice

Getting Help Quickly is a resource to get immediate help and support.

• Emergency Services
• Listening Services
• Crisis Houses & Services
• Coping in the Moment
• Getting Help Quickly
• Some Common Questions
•  

In The Real - Bristol Hearing Voices Network (BHVN)

In the Real is the a film created by filmmaker and psychoanalyst Conor McCormack. This is a documentation of the Bristol Hearing Voices Network – a self-help group for people who hear voices and have other unusual experiences. The result of this collaboration is In the Real, a 59 min observational documentary film which goes right to the heart of the voice-hearing experience. In the Real was supported creatively and financially by Durham University’s Hearing the Voice: an interdisciplinary research project, led by Charles Fernyhough and Angela Woods, which aims to provide a better understanding of what it is like to hear voices when no one is speaking.

In the Real - Hearing The Voice

In the Real is a film by filmmaker and psychoanalyst Conor McCormack has documented the Bristol Hearing Voices Network, a self-help group for people who hear voices and have other unusual experiences. The result of this collaboration is In the Real, a 59 min observational documentary film which goes right to the heart of the voice-hearing experience. 

Integrated Schizophrenia and Recovery Program. - The Royal Mental Health Care

The Royal provides recovery-focused treatment within a residential setting as part of its Integrated Schizophrenia and Recovery Program. The Recovery Program focuses on recovery-focused treatment, education and opportunities for skill-building, a holistic view of mental illness that focuses on the person, not just the symptoms, improving self identity, embracing responsibility; developing meaningful roles adn hope. The goal is for people to move back into the community and live as independently as possible, accessing available community supports.

The Recovery Program offers unique programming which is designed to help individuals reach their goals. Using an evidence based technique called Illness Management Recovery (IMR) the program helps individuals to focus on and set specific goals, and also to develop the skills necessary to meet their goals. Realistic goals vary from person to person and could include:

• Improved social skills
• Increasing physical activity levels
• Ability to take the bus independently
• Develop a vocational activity: volunteer role, competitive employment or return to school
• Improving self-care, like making healthy eating choices

People are discharged when they successfully reach their goals, demonstrate a level of functioning in activities of daily living required to live in the most appropriate environment of their choice, progress to a point where they can no longer benefit from the program Upon discharge, people transition back to the care and support of their referring team, for example, family doctor, case manager or Assertive Community Treatment Team. Referral agencies are key participants in developing discharge plans and to make referrals to local community resources when appropriate. The average stay at the Recovery Program is six months. The interdisciplinary team includes a Psychiatrist, Recreation Therapist, Social Worker, Occupational Therapist, Dietician, Registered Nurses and Registered Practical Nurses, Peer Support Workers and Personal Care Attendants.

International First Episode Vocational Recovery (iFEVR) - International Early Psychosis Association (IEPA)

The International First Episode Vocational Recovery (iFEVR) group is a group of clinicians, researchers, economists and policy makers from several countries. In 2008 they developed an international consensus statement called Meaningful Lives: Supporting young people with psychosis in education, training and employment. 

International Groups - Schizophrenia and Related Disorders Alliance of America (SARDAA)

International Physical Health in Youth Stream (iphYs) - International Early Psychosis Association (IEPA)

The International Physical Health in Youth Stream (iphYs) collaboration began in 2010 at the IEPA conference in Amsterdam. iphYs is a group of clinicians, service users, family members and researchers from more than eleven countries who joined forces to develop an international consensus statement in 2013 on improving the physical health of young people with psychosis.

The statement, called Healthy Active Lives (HeAL), aims to reverse the trend of people with severe mental illness dying early by tackling risks for future physical illnesses through a prevention and early intervention approach. HeAL is relevant to practice and calls for evidence-based physical health interventions to be provided pro-actively and right from the start for young people experiencing psychosis for the first time. HeAL offers a way that clinicians, consumers, families and other interested collaborators can advocate for evidence-based services. Download PDF.

Intervoice Community Agreement - Intervoice - The International Hearing Voices Network

INTREPID Inida - INTernational REsearch Programme on Psychoses In Diverse Settings (INTREPID II)

The catchment site in India comprises of 4 adjoining taluks (administrative sub-districts) in the district of Kanchipuram of Tamil Nadu state in Southern India. The site lies about 50 km from the state capital of Chennai (formerly Madras) and extends for about 50 km end-to-end. The catchment area is comprised of 16 towns and 448 villages with a population of about 1 million individuals, with more than 60% of the population being between the ages of 18 and 64 years (the age group of interest for INTREPID II). 

INTREPID Nigeria - INTernational REsearch Programme on Psychoses In Diverse Settings (INTREPID II)

INTREPID II is being conducted, nearly 30% of the population lives below the poverty line. Although English is the official language of the country, over 500 native languages are spoken in Nigeria, including Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo and Fula. â€‹ â€‹The catchment site in Nigeria comprises 3 Local Government Areas in and around the metropolitan city of Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, South West Nigeria: Idaban North East, Ibadan South East, and Ona-Ara.The catchment areas have a population over a million individuals, with close to 52% of the population being between the ages of 18 and 64 years (the age group of interest for INTREPID II).

INTREPID Trinidad & Tobago - INTernational REsearch Programme on Psychoses In Diverse Settings (INTREPID II)

​The catchment area for this study is in Trinidad and consists of the municipalities of Diego Martin, Port of Spain, San Juan/Laventille, Tunapuna/Piarco, Arima, Chaguanas and Sangre Grande. The population at risk is 487,159. 

Ireland Hearing Voices Groups - Hearing Voices Ireland (HVI)

Voices Groups are hearing voices self help groups in Ireland. These include:

• Bantry Hearing Voices Group: a hearing voices group is running in Bantry (West Cork) @ that meets at Droumleigh Resource Centre on the 3rd Friday of the month - 027-52970
• Belfast Hearing Voices Group: the Belfast group has been running for a number of years after a founding member of the English hearing voices movement, Jacquie Dillon came to Belfast. Since then we have been to a number of conferences as a group, including Manchester, Canterbury and a number of other one day conferences at which we have done work shops about the positive benefits of self help groups for voice hearers. 
• Clonakilty Voices Group: Clonakilty: The Focus Programme meets 3-4:30 on the first Friday of the month - 027-52970
• Cork Hearing Voices Group: is currently only open to service users of the South Lee Mental Health Service, Cork. Bishopstown Library, Wilton, Cork, Hearing Voices Group runs every second Friday from 1-2 pm. The group is co-facilitated by an expert by experience and a mental health nurse (Sean Spillane). Currently this group is open to all service users of the South Lee Mental Health Service outpatients only, individual work is facilitated for inpatients - sean.spillane@hse.ie - 0214234304 or 0877618618.
• CORK (Douglas HVG): a public group is open to Voices Hearers in the Cork area. It is located in Brandon House, Dosco Industrial Estate, South Douglas Road, Cork every Tuesday 11.00-2.00pm - 021 4362701 - Kathy.crowley@rehab.ie or Paul.seymour@rehab.ie
• CORK (Mahon/Blackrock HVG): is a group open to Voices Hearers and people with unusual beliefs who attend Blackrock Hall Mental Health Services as outpatients - Blackrock Hall, Primary Care Centre, Skehard Road, Blackrock on Wednesdays 14.20-15.30pm - 0214233162
• Donegal Hearing Voices Group is a group hat aims to offer a safe place for people to feel accepted and comfortable sharing their experiences of voices, visions, tactile sensations and other unusual experiences and perceptions. People will meet together to help and support each other, to exchange information, and to learn from one another. It will also offer an opportunity for people to accept and “live with voices” in a way that enables them to regain some control over their lives. The group is held Regional Cultural Centre, Port Road (Letterkenny) from 11.30am – 1pm on the 1st and 4th Thursday of every month - Ursula 087 9053747.
• Dublin Hearing Voices Group: is a group for people who hear voices, see things and other unusual experiences are common responses to extreme stress. Meetings are held weekly from 6.30pm–8.00pm at Hill Street Family Resource Centre, Dublin 1 - 083-1997775 or 085-7827596.
• Dublin-Ballyfermot Hearing Voices Group: support for people who hear voices and other sensory experiences open only to people accessing services locally.
• Dublin-Clondalkin Hearing Voices Group: provides support for people who hear voices and other sensory experiences in a safe and friendly space to talk and an opportunity to learn from other voice hearers. The group is held every 3rd Thursdays 4:00-5:00pm @ Clondalkin Mental Health Centre, Orchard Road, Dublin 2 - 01 457 0009 - sarah.kehoe@hse.ie for further information
• Dublin South East Hearing Voices Group: a group that aims to provide a safe space to talk about visions and voices, to promote acceptance, validation and peer support, and to learn what voices may mean and how to live well with them. The group is on Thursdays from 12:30-1.30pm at Burton Hall, Sandyford (Dublin) - mark.omahoney@sjog.ie - (01) 2955888
• Dublin-Tallaght Hearing Group: a group is open only to those attending the Tallaght Acute Unit. The group runs every three months on a Thursday. Phone Aurelia Nxumalo, or Mary O’Toole - (01) 41433 - email Aurelia.Nxumaro@amnch.ie
• Kildare Hearing Voices Group: a group running in the Health Centre on Station Road in Newbridge and will run on Tuesdays from 3.30pm. It is starting on the 27th of October 2015 at 3:30pm -  045 521220 - florence.daniel@hse.ie
• Kilkenny Hearing Voices Group is a group that meets every Tuesday from 7:00pm to 8:30pm in The Mews Building, Collier’s Lane, Kilkenny City and is facilitated by current and past service users and a psychologist -l hearingvoiceskilkenny@gmail.com or get involved on https://groups.google.com/d/forum/kilkenny-hearing-voices-group.
• Longford Hearing Voices Group (Echo) is a peer support group will meet monthly in Longford - 086 8525281 or 086 3803473
• Mayo Hearing Voices Group: a group that meets Wednesdays every week between 17:30–19:00 at the Mayo mental Health Association, New Antrim Street, Castlebar, Co Mayo - 089 2288552
• Tipperary Hearing Voices Group: is a group open to voice hearers who attend services locally every Wednesday at 2:00pm in Cuan Croi Day Centre, Tipperary Town - 062 82123.
• INTERVOICE Google Hearing Voices Movement World Map

ISPS Australia - International Society for Psychological and Social Approaches to Psychosis (ISPS)

The Australian branch of The International Society for Psychological and Social Approaches to Psychosis. They are currently a small group of volunteer Board Directors but believe that from little things big things can grow. We hope to join together Australians who have a passion or interest in the importance of psychological and social approaches to psychosis so we can ensure that those who experience psychosis or extreme states get the support and understanding they need to make sense of their experience and move through it effectively. They offer messages of hope that it is possible to be supported through extreme states. Our website offers a space to find information about psychological and social approaches to psychosis and a means to connect with others in Australia who have an interest in this area. Here you will find a forum for members to exchange information, ideas, and experiences, and resources that provide information about news, events, training, research and interventions.

ISPS Charter of Good Practice - International Society for Psychological and Social Approaches to Psychosis (ISPS)

ISPS India - International Society for Psychological and Social Approaches to Psychosis (ISPS)

ISPS Liverpool Declaration - International Society for Psychological and Social Approaches to Psychosis (ISPS)

ISPS New Zealand - International Society for Psychological and Social Approaches to Psychosis (ISPS)

ISPS New Zealand is a an affiliate of ISPS International - an organisation dedicated to moving towards social and psychological approaches to psychosis through research, education, and advocacy. ISPS New Zealand shares the values and aspirations of ISPS International whilst embracing and valuing all that makes New Zealand beautiful and unique including our bicultural nature.

ISPS NZ welcomes anyone interested in psychological approaches to psychosis - nurses, psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, arts therapists, occupational therapists, psychotherapists, academics, students, managers, service users and families/whānau. We believe that there is a useful place for many approaches and many perspectives. Benefits include:

• Four issues per annum of the ISPS Journal: ‘Psychosis: Psychological, Social and Integrative Approaches'
• Online access to all Psychosis issues
• You will receive the ISPS Newsletter four times per annum (via e-mail)
• You can join one of our many e-mail discussion groups
• Reduced rates at ISPS international conferences
• 20% discount on all ISPS books published by Routledge

The ISPS Journal Psychosis accepts personal and institutional subscriptions. All Individual Members of ISPS International and local ISPS group members receive the journal as a membership benefit.

ISPS US - International Society for Psychological and Social Approaches to Psychosis (ISPS)

ISPS-US is the United States Chapter of The International Society for Psychological and Social Approaches to Psychosis. ISPS-US advances recovery through an understanding of psychosis and extreme states. 

Kids in Control - British Columbia Schizophrenia Society

Kids in Control and Teens in Control are B.C. Schizophrenia Society programs that provide support and education for children and youth aged 8-18 who have a family member with a mental illness. Through these programs, participants learn healthy coping strategies and self-care practices, while gaining  factual information about  mental illness so they can better understand the behaviour of their parent or sibling. The small group setting allows participants to  connect with peers who share similar experiences in a safe, accepting environment and learn they are not alone. 

• Kids in Control is intended for children ages 8 to 12: 
• Teens in Control is intended for youth ages 13 to 18: a condensed workshop version of Teens in Control available that focuses on the main ideas from the full program. Teens in Control workshops are usually two two-hour sessions, with optional follow-up sessions. This format is intended for youth groups, youth drop-in centres or high school groups that want to learn more about mental illness and ways to practice self-care.

Learn More About Schizophrenia - Schizophrenia Society of Canada

Legal Issues - Schizophrenia and Related Disorders Alliance of America (SARDAA)

Listen Up! - Hearing Voices: Suffering, Inspiration & The Everyday

Listen Up! is a series of arts workshops in Bradford, Leeds and Durham who came together to share experiences, challenge stigma and create artwork for this exhibition that sends a positive message to other young voice-hearers and their families. The artists are Amina Mohammed, Enie Rebecca Hobson, Imogen Godwin, Jai/Jess Mico, Jamie Sykes, Jenna Hullah, Niamh Pitwood, S. H.,  and V. French.

Literary Voices - Hearing Voices: Suffering, Inspiration & The Everyday

Literary Voices is an exhibition signalling that they are key features to literature as sources of inspiration, through their representation, and in how they are received.

Living With Voices - Understanding Voices

Living With Voices covers a wide range of topics, including what to do in a crisis, coping strategies and how to open up conversations about voice-hearing, as well as ways to manage voices while working or studying. They also explore the links between voice-hearing and creativity, and provide practical information and advice for friends and family.

• Coping With Voices
• Talking About Voices
• Hearing Voices at Work or While Studying
• Voices & Creativity
• For Friends & Family

Local Action Groups - Open The Doors

Managing Schizophrenia - Schizophrenic.com

• Why Schizophrenia Has Lead To Homelessness

• Five Common Variables: Study Reviewed Risk Factors For Self Injury In Schizophrenics

• Family Relationships

• Living With Schizophrenia

• Schizophrenia and the Workplace

Maori Perspective - Hearing Voices Network Autearoa New Zealand

Marijuana / Cannabis and Schizophrenia - Schizophrenia.Com

Maternal Mental Health Awareness For Black and Asian women - Action of Postpartum Psychosis (APP)

Medication For People Who Hear Voices - Understanding Voices

The Medication section of the Understanding Voices Website brings together reflections on personal experiences of taking medication, as well as information about its benefits and possible adverse effects. In an area that often involves controversy, conflicting information and strongly held views, we hope this part of our website encourages people to have the kind of conversations that support an informed choice.

• What medications are used when people hear voices?

• What is it like to take antipsychotics?

• How might antipsychotics help with voices?

• Adverse effects

• Making an informed choice

• Reducing or coming off medication

Meet The Resident Psychiatrist - Schizophrenia Society of Saskatchewan

Melatonin for Schizophrenia - Schizophrenia.Com

Mental Health Policy - Schizophrenia and Related Disorders Alliance of America (SARDAA)

Mental Health Training & Consultancy - Mind in Camden

Mind in Camden has a wealth of experience in training, consultancy and delivering innovative services.

1. Training Courses: quality training opportunities. Recent courses have included Removing The Barriers: Supporting children and young people who hear voices to get the most from education and life; Hearing Voices Group Facilitation Training (focusing on groups for young people, prisons or adults); Supporting children and young people who hear voices; Co-production: A fresh approach to providing Day Support Services; and Creative ways of working with young people who hear voices
2. Bespoke Training and Consultancy
3. Paranoia Peer Support Group Facilitator: facilitation in specialist areas including Hearing Voices Group / Network Development; Paranoia and Unusual Beliefs Peer Support Groups; Minor Tranquillisers; Co-production – service users providing services alongside staff and volunteers; Participationl Developing peer support groups in prisons and secure environments and Recovery-oriented ways of working with people who struggle with difficult voice-hearing experiences, unusual beliefs and extremes of mood

Mentoring - Working to Recovery

• Group mentoring (Supervision with Karen): one hour with Karen Taylor on Recovery, Trauma and Psychosis for a Team, or Staff Group

• Mentoring And Supervision For Practitioners And Managers With Karen: one hour with Karen Taylor, Recovery, Trauma and Psychosis supervision for individual practitioner or Manager

• Mentoring with Family Member with Karen: one hour mentoring with family member with Karen, exposing what recovery might mean for you.

• Mentoring with an Individual with lived experience: one Hour Mentoring and exploration with person with lived experience

Midwife of the Soul - Working to Recovery

Widwife of the Soul embraces the hearing voices approaches that her husband (Ron Coleman) helped to establish, and has been on a spiritual journey of her own. This program aims:

• To leave women with a stronger understanding of how trauma can manifest itself within themselves, including “split off selves”
• To understand the relationship we have to the land and how this can enhance healing and emotional wellbeing
• Understanding the protective factors of flight, fight, freeze and faun at the time of trauma and how, over time, the fear response can exert a negative impact on a person and their lifestyle
• Developing a spiritual practice that will enhance your emotional wellbeing
• To learn about what is happening within the body and how the body can heal, understanding the connection between healing, spirituality and trauma.

Mind in Camden Social Prescribing Services - Mind in Camden

The Social Prescribing Service works in partnership with community providers in Camden to deliver easily accessible one-to-one support to Camden residents struggling with their mental health. The main aim of the service is to support people to access community services, projects and activities to aid their mental health recovery. The Social Prescribing Team operates as a whole service made up of two parts:

• TAP Social Prescribing: working holistically using a whole team approach alongside Tavistock and Portman. This is provided by staff and is aimed at people who need a greater degree of support to think about their goals.
• Healthy Minds Social Prescribing: aimed at people who may have a clearer sense of their goals and are more ready to work towards them with some additional support. This is mainly provided by trained volunteers, with support from staff who carry out initial meetings.

Once a referral is received to the service, the person will be allocated to the team which can best support their needs. The service works in a person centred way, customising the approach around the needs and wishes of the person participating in Social Prescribing. They can expect:

• 8-12 sessions of one to one support to explore their current situation, identify needs and focus on achievable goals.
• A friendly and flexible approach.
• Guidance and information on available community resources
• Support to make contact with community or voluntary sector organisations.
• An opportunity to review progress at intervals after the series of sessions has concluded.

Modern Treatments - Living With Schizohrenia

Mother and Baby Units - APP's Campaigning for Mother and Baby Units - Action of Postpartum Psychosis (APP)

Action of Postpartum Psychosis (APP) aims is to ensure all women affected by postpartum psychosis in the UK have access to a Mother and Baby Unit - essential places of care for new mums experiencing severe postnatal mental illness. Their campaigning work is underpinned by research and strong partnerships between women and families who have experienced postpartum psychosis, specialist health professionals and academic experts. APP is proud to be a founder member of the Maternal Mental Health Alliance and work locally and nationally to support NHS service development.

What is a Mother and Baby Unit?

A Mother and Baby Unit (MBU) is a specialist inpatient treatment unit where mothers with mental illness are admitted with their babies. MBUs include multidisciplinary teams of experts able to care for the physical and emotional needs of new mothers. They have specialist knowledge of the issues surrounding medication management in pregnancy and the postnatal period; specialist facilities appropriate for new mothers and babies; support breastfeeding, parenting skills; and bonding at this critical time in the developing mother-infant relationship. Access to a MBU is essential for women with postpartum psychosis. APP's research shows that women who receive care for postpartum psychosis in MBUs feel more satisfied with the care they receive, feel safer, feel more confident in the knowledge of the staff, recover more quickly and feel more confident with their baby when they go home. 

APP has been campaigning for more Mother and Baby Units in the UK for over 10 years. Over the past 4 years, NHS England has invested in 4 new units, and far fewer women in England with postpartum psychosis are now separated from their baby during treatment. However, many parts of the UK do not have MBUs. Mums and babies are forced to travel miles for treatment or mums can end up on an adult psychiatric ward without their babies and without specialist care. The first unit in South Wales opened in April 2021. But there’s still no Mother and Baby Unit for women in North Wales, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland or Northern Scotland.

APP is working hard to continue to campaign for more Mother and Baby Units - essential places of care for new mums experiencing severe mental illness and their babies. We must support the existence of current units, ensuring the public and policymakers understand and value these facilities. We must ensure that all units are as fully resourced as the new units, with excellent training, multidisciplinary professional teams, and access to peer support. They are collecting stories of women (and partners and grandparents) who did not receive care in an MBU. Please share your story with us - or if you have received care in both an MBU and General Unit.

Music For Mums - Action of Postpartum Psychosis (APP)

Myths About Schizophrenia - Living With Schizohrenia

N-Acetyl cysteine (NAC) for Schizophrenia - Schizophrenia.Com

National Intervoice Networks - Intervoice - The International Hearing Voices Network

National Networks - English Hearing Voices Network

National Organisations - Schizophrenia and Related Disorders Alliance of America (SARDAA)

National Paranoia Network Training - National Paranoia Network

The Paranoia Network offers training around Paranoia, Hearing Voices and Trauma to psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, social workers and all interested parties. 

• Proposal to deliver training on how to use the Maastricht Interview for Voices A Social & Biographical Approach to Hearing Voices a Lived Experience Perspective

• Proposal to deliver training on how to use the Maastricht Interview for Problematic Thoughts Beliefs & Paranoia A Social & Biographical Approach a Lived Experience Perspective

• Understanding and working with voices

• Working with childhood trauma and abuse

• Working through paranoia and making sense of unusual beliefs

• Starting and sustaining hearing voices and paranoia support groups

Natural Treatment for Schizophrenia - Schizophrenic.com

• Art Therapy Not Effective at Treating Schizophrenia

• New report on acupuncture for schizophrenia

• Brain "exercise" stimulation might improve memory in schizophrenics

• Regular Exercise has Mental Health Benefits for Schizophrenics

• Exercise Could Help Treat Schizophrenia

• Mental, Physical Exercise Helps Young People With Schizophrenia

• Exercise Reduces Psychosis Symptoms In Young People

• Low-Carb Diet Could Help Schizophrenia

• US funds 160K yoga study for schizophrenia

• Yoga Therapy for Neuropsychiatric Disorders

• Exercise Reduces Psychosis Symptoms In Young People

Navigator - Find a Resource Provider - Schizophrenia Society of Nova Scotia

Non-Pharmaceutical Physical Treatments for Schizophrenia - The Schizophrenia Library

Non-pharmaceutical physical treatments for schizophrenia include:

• Acupuncture
• Biofeedback is a technique in which information about the person’s body is fed back to the person so that they may be trained to alter the body’s conditions.

• Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a seizure is electrically induced after the patient has been given a short-acting anaesthetic and is asleep.

• Exercise Therapy

• Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive form of brain stimulation similar to transcranial magnetic stimulation, but instead of using magnets, it uses a low-intensity, constant current applied through scalp electrodes.

• Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) uses an electromagnetic coil placed over the scalp to stimulate the nerve cells beneath it. In general, low frequency stimulation reduces nerve cell activity and high frequency stimulation increases nerve cell activity. Repetitive TMS (rTMS) has been tested as a possible treatment for schizophrenia.

• Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) provides indirect modulation of brain network activity through the stimulation of cranial nerves. Invasive VNS involves surgical implantation of a small pulse generator under the skin which is programmed to deliver long-lasting, intermittent electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve. Non-invasive stimulation involves attaching a stimulator to the outer ear close to the ear canal, which delivers electrical impulses through the skin to the vagus nerve.

npj: Schizophrenia - Schizophrenia International Research Society (SIRS)

npj Schizophrenia is an open access, online-only journal that aims to publish high-quality original papers and review articles relevant to all aspects of schizophrenia and psychosis, from molecular and basic research through environmental or social research, to translational and treatment-related topics. npj Schizophrenia publishes papers on the broad psychosis spectrum including affective psychosis, bipolar disorder, the at-risk mental state, psychotic symptoms, and overlap between psychotic and other disorders.

npj Schizophrenia is published in partnership between The Schizophrenia International Research Society and Nature Publishing Group. Authors whose papers are accepted for publication within npj Schizophrenia are required to pay an article processing charge (APC). All SIRS members are entitled to a discounted APC (50% reduction on the full rate) if an article for which they are the corresponding author is accepted for publication within the journal.

Omega 3 for Schizophrenia Prevention - Schizophrenia.Com

One on One Peer Support - Schizophrenia Society of Nova Scotia

The Schizophrenia Society of NS has trained peer support workers that meet with anyone in the community living with a mental illness. We receive referrals from clinicians, family and individuals themselves looking for peer support. The Peer Supporter meets one to one with the peer to discuss whatever is on their mind, share experiences and work towards their goals of recovery.

One-on-One Individual and Family Peer Support - Manitoba Schizophrenia Society (MSS)

One-on-One Individual and Family Peer Support provides an opporutnity for one t speak with a Peer Support Worker who will listen with compassionate presence to your journey, answer questions regarding accessing mental health services, and will be available to help navigate the mental health system. Peer Support is available for both individuals and family members.

Online Gatherings - English Hearing Voices Network

Hearing Voices Network is trying to create some online spaces for those interested in voices, visions and related experiences to connect and explore experiences from different angles that will be publicised on their news page and through social media.

Online Groups - English Hearing Voices Network

Online groups are run along the lines of regular in-person groups – the main difference being you are online. People often use the cameras and microphones with their computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone to access them. If you want more information, contact the facilitators directly. These include the following groups

• Voice Collective 16-25 Group: an established peer support group for young people aged 16-25 years who hear voices, see visions or have related experiences, facilitated by Fiona, Nikki and/or Jess from Mind in Camden’s Voice Collective project. Their groups are on Wednesday from 5:30-6:30pm.
• New online Hearing Voices Group: a group run by Bonny Astor, Ben Ellsworth & Kit on Wednesdays between 5:30-6:45pm Wednesdays - hearingvoicesonlinegroup@gmail.com
• Talking Sense: an established evening Hearing Voices Group that has now moved online on Wednesdays at 19:00pm. It is facilitated by Lauren and Janey. Email them at talkingsenselondon@gmail.com for more info.

Open Door Materials - Open The Doors

The following materials were developed as tools to implement the WPA Programme to Reduce the Stigma and Discrimination Because of Schizophrenia. They are available for programme participants to customize to fit local culture and programme needs. The information from the WPA Programme to Reduce Stigma and Discrimination because of Schizophrenia has been divided into five volumes, available below.

• Updated Bibliography 2006: a revised bibliography of books and journal articles on Stigma and more specifically on the Stigma associated with mental illness is now available here as well. The bibliography, authored by Professor Norman Sartorius and Dr. Marion Aichenberger is one of the most comprehensive on this important subject.
• Training Manual: The Training Manual of the WPA “Open the Door” programme includes information on “Assessing Feasability”, “Developing Reasonable Goals and Objectives”, “Working with Community Neighborhoods” and other topics of great importance to those developing a stigma programme.
• Volume I: Guidelines for Programme Implementation. Outlines a series of steps for developing a programme to reduce stigma and discrimination because of schizophrenia and includes an estimate of the time needed to complete each step. While it is expected that the time required may vary from site to site, it is recommended that sites follow the sequence as specified and complete all steps.
• Volume II: information about Schizophrenia Relevant to Programme Implementation. Contains facts about schizophrenia selected on the basis of their relevance to such programmes. In this part of the programme document, messages of particular relevance to the reduction of stigma and discrimination are highlighted in the margins. The information in Volume II will be updated regularly to reflect new research findings and the experience of those participating in the programme at different sites
• Volume IV: Compendium of Programmes Aiming to Reduce Stigma and Discrimination Because of Schizophrenia or Mental Illness in General. Contains information on anti-stigma programmes world-wide engaged in fighting mental illness stigma and discrimination. This compendium collects and reviews information on existing programmes and materials, in order to help those implementing the WPA Programme design their own project, and decide on the media materials to be used. The survey is ongoing and it is expected that many more programmes will be included as information about them is received. Additions will be published as supplements to this compendium.
• Volume V: annotated List of Materials for use in Country Programmes. This volume is an annotated list of materials used in country anti-stigma programmes. The materials are indexed alphabetically by title, author, audience, media, and language.

Oriental Perspective - Hearing Voices Network Autearoa New Zealand

Our Stories - Voices Unplugged - Voices Vic

Voices Unplugged is all about hearing what it’s really like to hear voices by providing personal stories about hearing voices can be told in a variety of ways:

• Mini-films
• Audio recordings
• Poetry
• Art and
• Prose.

Overcoming Depression - Schizophrenia.Com

Overview of Schizophrenia - Schizophrenia.Com

Partnership Program - Schizophrenia Society of Saskatchewan

The Schizophrenia Society of Saskatchewan’s Partnership Program is essentially a “Stigma Busters” public awareness program.  The Partnership Program shares stories of recovery from schizophrenia and related psychosis with the general public.  Our goals are to promote recovery from schizophrenia and related mental illnesses and to reduce the stigma and misconceptions associated with mental health disorders.  The Partnership Program puts a positive face of recovery at the forefront of mental illness dispelling the myths and fears the general public has.  It also informs the public on how to seek treatment and services.

The Partnership Program showcases people with various related mental illnesses working as equals with family members of people with mental health disorders, and health care professionals.  Each presentation consists of a person directly affected by schizophrenia, a family member, and a health care professional.  In addition to this there are people directly affected by related mental health disorders, including bipolar disorder and depression, presenting with our panel.  We currently have 100 volunteers presenting for the Partnership Program. A standard presentation takes approximately one hour.  This includes a three to four person panel.  

• Firstly, a person affected by schizophrenia and/or a related mental illness shares their story of recovery.  
• Secondly, a family member of a person living with mental illness shares how the family unit is affected.  
• Thirdly, a mental health professional provides the facts surrounding schizophrenia and related disorders.  

The Partnership Program often provides longer presentations taking approximately 90 minutes to two hours for university and college audiences or any group requesting additional information.  This includes a larger panel of speakers and provides a more thorough look into mental illness. Numerous presentations are given to police officers, R.C.M.P., security guards, justice and corrections, service and health care providers, numerous colleges and departments at the University of Saskatchewan and the University of Regina including nursing, medicine, social work, psychology and kinesiology, Saskatchewan Polytechnic, Saskatoon Indian Institute of Technology, corporations and businesses, drug and alcohol rehabilitation centres, care homes, seniors groups, church and ministry groups, community service agencies, immigration programs, homeless shelters, mental health hospitals, and to clients and family members directly affected by mental illness.  A general mental health presentation is also provided for children in elementary schools.

Each presentation is geared towards the particular audience we are presenting to so our presentations are made appropriate to the age level we are presenting to.  Relevant information is provided to each audience making it useful for all those in attendance.  Follow up presentations are also given to groups requiring further information. Presentations are often given in smaller communities and rural areas outside of Regina and Saskatoon.  However, our hosts are asked to help cover our accommodations and travel costs in these circumstances.   A DVD featuring all perspectives is mailed to audiences in the rare instance that we are unable travel to along with a package of information.

In 2012 the Partnership Program was asked to do a pilot project on depression at our presentations in high schools.  People directly affected by depression presented along-side those directly affected by schizophrenia.  This broad approach was widely appreciated by students and teachers alike.  We are currently continuing to include people directly affected by our presentations.  People directly affected by bipolar disorder have also been presenting along-side those affected by schizophrenia for several years at colleges and universities as well as drug and alcohol rehabilitation centres.

The Partnership Program is the most effective way to provide a well rounded presentation on mental illness.  It builds the clients’ self esteem and gives participants a sense of empowerment.  It also promotes peer interaction, support, and advocacy among its members.  It provides the general public with useful, accurate, and updated information.  It reduces public fear in regards to seeking treatment and accessing services.

Peer Support - Understanding Voices

Peer support is when people use their life experiences to help each other. There are many different forms of peer support, but they are all based on providing safe spaces where people can feel accepted and understood. In peer support, everyone’s views and experiences are equally valued and there is an emphasis on reciprocity and mutual aid – that is, people both give and receive support. Some practical examples of peer support in action include:

• Out of hours crisis line
• Peer support group
• Activist collective
• Peer support workers
• Online forums
• The Roots of Peer Support
• The Values of Peer Support
• The benefits and drawbacks of peer support
• Hearing Voices Groups: peer support groups for people who hear voices, see visions or have other similar sensory experiences. They have their roots in the work of the Hearing Voices Movementicon (HVM),

Peer Support at the HaVeN - Hearing Voices Network Dundee

Peer Support at the HaVeN includes peer-led support groups for all aspects of living with mental illness and also specifically for voice hearing and other extraordinary experiences. They also provide one-to-one peer informal support or mentoring, where we match the needs of the person seeking help with the experiences of the person providing the support. Peer mentoring and befriending is an informal way of providing peer support. Our experienced and trained peer support volunteers offer their services on a regular basis to the acute wards at Carseview and also at other organisations in Dundee. This enables people to start building supportive relationships with outside agencies before being discharged, easing the transition from living in wards to moving back into the community. Many of the peer support volunteers also deliver training and awareness sessions for professionals, medical students, nursing students and other outside agencies. The team has carried out seminars with first year mental health nursing students at Abertay University in the past. On one of those occasions, one student commented that:

Peer Support – Maria Alvarez - Schizophrenia Society of Saskatchewan

Maria Alvarez is a person with lived experience who has a mental illness she can offer hope and help negotiate the mental health system for family members or those who have a mental illness. She is in the office Tuesday and Thursday afternoons.

Peer Support for You - Action of Postpartum Psychosis (APP)

APP’s peer support service connects you with people who have been there. We can support you if you’ve had postpartum psychosis (PP), or experienced high mood or mania after the birth of your child, or if you are a partner or family member of someone who experienced PP. They know that discharge from hospital, from a Mother and Baby Unit or from other treatment is usually only the beginning of a longer journey to recovery. There are different ways for you to get support, depending on what feels most comfortable for you.

• Online peer support forum: read other people’s posts or write your own for support from our community of members and volunteers.
• One to one support: access one to one peer support via private message, email, video call, or, in some parts of the country, meet a peer supporter in person. 
• Regional Café groups: lived experience café groups where women with PP, and their partners and family members, can meet together informally. There are currently 8 groups across the UK, in South and North Wales, Sussex and Hampshire, Yorkshire, North East, Lancashire and Cumbria, Birmingham and London. Café groups meet both online on Zoom and in person, so if you can’t get to a real one, you can always join a group for a cuppa online

People often tell us they have never met or talked to anyone else who has experienced PP. Myths and misunderstandings about the illness can make it harder to talk to wider family, friends or other new mums about what happened.You can talk to us, whether you are newly recovering, considering another baby, want to talk about parenting after PP, or even if you had PP many years ago and would just like to talk, ask questions, or meet others. Our peer support volunteers are mainly women who are recovered from PP, but we have partners, grandparents, and other family members too. They have been there and understand something of what you have been through.  They can also provide peer support and/or information if you are at high risk of postpartum psychosis (PP), because you are pregnant and have bipolar disorder. 

Peer Support Group - Manitoba Schizophrenia Society (MSS)

The Peer Support Groups is an open group for anyone living with early psychosis, schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder facilitated by a Peer Support Worker. Educational topics geared towards recovery are discussed.

Peer Support Network - Action of Postpartum Psychosis (APP)

The Peer Support Network Peer is a support service for women and partners to talk through online support services. The project aims to reduce the sense of isolation experienced following PP, and improve access to information and support for women, their partners and family.

• PPTalk: online PP Community
• One to One Support

Perinatal Mental Health Workforce Training Package - Action of Postpartum Psychosis (APP)

Acrtion for Postpartum Psychosis offer a training package in postpartum psychosis (PP) and Severe Mental Illness (SMI) in the perinatal period, delivered by a Consultant Perinatal Psychiatrist OR Senior academic, AND one of APP’s Experts by Experience. By utilising clinical experience, cutting-edge research, and the real experiences of affected women and families, the course will up-skill the workforce, developing expertise and empathetic understanding. Learning objectives will address domains in the PMH competency framework, with a specific focus on the risk areas of SMI and postpartum psychosis. The one-day training course is suitable for all professionals working with women and families in pregnancy and the perinatal period including:

• Psychiatrists
• Midwives
• Health Visitors
• GPs
• Obstetricians
• Mental Health Nurses
• Psychologists
• IAPT workers
• Psychotherapists
• Social Workers and
• Acute & Emergency staff.

Personal Experiences - English Hearing Voices Network

Personal Experiences Hearing Voices - Intervoice - The International Hearing Voices Network

Personal Success Stories of Coping with Schizophrenia - Schizophrenia.Com

Phoenix Wellbeing & Recovery Service - Mind in Camden

Phoenix Wellbeing & Recovery Service offers a range of options to support your recovery and emotional health so that you can choose what works best for you.

• Support Space: Phoenix is an welcoming social space where you can come for practical, emotional and crisis support with our recovery staff and volunteers. We offer subsidised meals, computer access (inc WIFI), and a range of  co-produced activities, peer support, one-to-one counselling or group therapy, and seasonal events and trips.
• Weekend Social Club: a group to meet others and build friendships in a supportive environment.
• Workshops: activities led by people with special expertise for continued personal development. Current workshops include Yoga, Mindfulness, Art, Music, Computer Basics, Writing, Walking Group.  
• Peer Support Groups: meetings to share experiences and support one another. 
  Group Therapy: weekly small group sessions with experienced therapists.
• Events and trips: day trips within and beyond London, festive celebrations, one-off workshops and short courses with guest facilitators.
• One-to-One Recovery Support: meet your supporter weekly for any of the following: coffee and a chat, outings, practical support (e.g. phone calls, answering mail), and/or support to identify, set and achieve your goals.
• Hearing Voices One-to-One Support: support with making sense of your voices, visions and other sensory experiences.
• Counselling: longer term service of 24 weeks of talking therapy provided by a psychotherapist in training. I

Physical Features of Schizophrenia - The Schizophrenia Library

People with schizophrenia usually have physical alterations to their central nervous system including functional and structural changes.

• Cortical release signs

• Movement Disorders

• Neurological Soft Signs

• Olfactory Functioning

• Pain Sensitivity

• Sleep Disturbance

• Temperature Regulation

• Biochemical Changes

• Cerebral blood flow and metabolism

• Eye Movement Dysfunction

• Dermatoglyphics

• Minor Physical Anomolies

• Morphometrics

• Telomere length

• Mismatch negativity (MMN) is an auditory event-related potential that is generated when a stimulus feature deviates from the regularity of previous auditory stimuli. This deviance can be a simple physical characteristic, such as tone duration, intensity, frequency or location; or more abstract presentation characteristics, such as a lower tone in a series of ascending tones. In this way, MMN generation relies on the creation of an auditory (echoic) memory trace for the preceding tones, in order to identify the subsequent deviance. MMN is thought to be an automatic, pre-attentional process and functions as an index of auditory discrimination and echoic memory integrity. MMN is observed as the difference in ERP wave response to the standard stimuli and the deviant stimulus. Larger differences between standard and deviant stimuli and lower probability of deviant occurrence are both associated with larger MMN amplitude.

• N100

• N170

• N250

• N400

• P100

• P200

• P300

• P50

• Prepulse inhibition

Polynesian Perspective - Hearing Voices Network Autearoa New Zealand

Positive & Spiritual Voices - Intervoice - The International Hearing Voices Network

Postpartum Psychosis & Covid-19 - Action of Postpartum Psychosis (APP)

Action on Postpartum Psychosis (APP) has compiled information for: pregnant women with a history of postpartum psychosis / bipolar; women and families in crisis or who are developing psychosis; and for those recovering from PP at this time. This is a fast-moving situation. Health trusts/boards across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland are continuing to make changes to their services.

• Pregnant Women Concerned About Postpartum Psychosis

• In Crisis or Developing Symptoms of Postpartum Psychosis

• During Recovery from Postpartum Psychosis

• Links For More Information

PPTalk Community - Action of Postpartum Psychosis (APP)

The Action for Postpartum Psychosis Online Peer Support Forum provides a space for people to read other people’s posts or write your own for support from their community of members and volunteers. The PPTalk community provides an option to connect with others who have been affected by Postpartum Psychosis (PP). One can: 

• Ask questions
• Share experiences
• Find out more about Postpartum Psychosis.

This community is open to anyone who has been affected by PP – if you are recovering, if you are a partner, family member, or friend who has been affected by PP, or if you had PP many years ago. They respectfully ask journalists, researchers & health professionals not to post here. This community is moderated by Action on Postpartum Psychosis (APP) & by APP volunteers – all who have personal experience of PP. They cannot offer urgent crisis support. 

Preventing Schizophrenia - Tactics and Risk Reduction Strategies - Schizophrenia.Com

Preventing Suicide in People who have Schizophrenia - Schizophrenia.Com

Prevention of Schizophrenia - Schizophrenic.com

• Prevention

• Community prevention program for schizophrenia drops psychosis-related hospitalizations

• Can Mental Health Disorders Be Prevented With Exercise?

• Mental health and diet: clean eating could prevent common disorders

• Fish oil supplements may help prevent psychosis

• Choline supplements could prevent schizophrenia

• Family Interventions Help Prevent Relapse in Schizophrenic Patients

PRIME Screening Test - Schizophrenia.Com

Professional Organisations - Schizophrenia and Related Disorders Alliance of America (SARDAA)

Public Education - Manitoba Schizophrenia Society (MSS)

Online delivery of educational services. As new courses become available, they will be posted on this page.
Please email Donna Hornick, Public Education Coordinator at ca to discuss what you are looking for.

Public Education Presentation – Understanding Schizophrenia - Manitoba Schizophrenia Society (MSS)

Public Education Presentation – Understanding Schizophrenia is a one-hour presentation for schools, universities, law enforcement, workplaces, etc. on early psychosis, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, suicide prevention, co-occurring disorders, recovery, mental health promotion, understanding the Mental Health System, and the resulting stigma.
 

Reaching Families Online Support Group Forum - British Columbia Schizophrenia Society

The Reaching Families Project provides an online forum for people to easily access group support and advice for loved ones of people living with mental illness. There are five support groups within the forum:

• Family and Friends of Persons with a Mental Illness (one private, one searchable)
• Adult Children of Persons with a Mental Illness Support
• Siblings of Persons with a Mental Illness Group and
• LGBTQ Partners of Persons with a Mental Illness.

The forum is overseen by a B.C. Schizophrenia Society moderator, who answers questions and provides resource information. Users also receive insight and advice from other people with similar experiences, without having to physically attend a support group meeting. 

Reaching Out - Schizophrenia Society of Newfoundland and Labrador

Reaching Out is a resource kit designed to increase awareness among students, teachers, and councelors. 

ReachOut Psychosis Tour - British Columbia Schizophrenia Society

ReachOut Psychosis Tour provides an interactive musical presentation designed to teach students and educators about psychosis. Endorsed by early psychosis clinicians, the presentation provides audiences facts about psychosis, challenge the stigma and myths surrounding psychosis, and highlight how to recognize and  seek help for youth with emerging psychosis. The show is geared towards secondary school students in grades 10-12, but can also be adapted for community events. 

Reason to Hope Family Training - World Fellowship for Schizophrenia and Allied Disorders

Reason to Hope Family Training is a new international approach to family self-help, based on the Schizophrenia Society of Canada’s Strengthening Families Together (2006) and WFSAD’s Strengthening Families Through Empowerment (2001-2006). It is structured education and multi-cultural support for families, developed and taught by families; it alternates between facts and feelings, and gives information and tools at the same time as it gathers input and ideas from the group. Families receive information about the illness, support for themselves, and skills in how to be an effective caregiver. 

Reason to Hope follows a train-the-trainer model, building the capacity of family leaders around the world and allowing exponential reach and dissemination of the training materials. The Training works to connect and support the 450 million families touched by serious mental illness, to provide information and reduce stress leading to health problems. Reason to Hope was launched as a World Federation for Mental Health Program during the WFMH Congress in Athens in September 2009. Twenty people took the course and eleven of them went on to take the instructor training at the second session. Details will appear on the WFMH Center for Family and Consumer Advocacy and Support Section of the WFMH website by the Spring of 2010.

Regina Schizophrenia Consumer Support Group - Schizophrenia Society of Saskatchewan

Regina Schizophrenia Consumer Support Group is a group that meets from 7:00 to 8:00 PM on the first Wednesday of every month at the Schizophrenia Society of Saskatchewan office.

Research Harmonisation Group (RHG) - Schizophrenia International Research Society (SIRS)

The Research Harmonisation Group (RHG) consist of from five to twenty senior researchers who have a research track record in the topic covered by the Group (the 2020 the research topic is epidemiology). At least half the members should be early career researchers (post docs, first time lecturers) who are nurtured by senior members of the group. The Society recognizes early career researchers as individuals who are less than 40 years of age or within five years post-doc of their terminal degree taking into account career breaks.  The senior researchers and early career researchers must be SIRS members.

The RHG must demonstrate that they have input from consumers who have shown an interest in research in the topic covered by the group but are not necessarily members. The purpose of Research Harmonisation Groups (RHG) is to produce methods for sharing and/or comparing data across countries to increase the creative drive of schizophrenia research internationally.

Responding to Emotionally Distressed Persons - Manitoba Schizophrenia Society (MSS)

Responding to Emotionally Distressed Persons is a two-hour workshop for those who may interact with persons who are emotionally distressed through their work, with the goal of learning de-escalation techniques.

Risk Factors of Schizophrenia - The Schizophrenia Library

Schizophrenia is a complex disorder and has been associated with many causative factors. With a heritability estimate around 80%, schizophrenia has a strong genetic component and this is reflected in the large number of genes that have been associated with the disorder. At present, the library does not include information on specific genes, but does provide general genetic information, information on family heritability, and the environmental risk factors that have been associated with the disorder. We also include information on the antecedents of schizophrenia, which are potentially very early signs of the disorder. Non-genetic risk factors include various prenatal and perinatal stressors, infectious agents, childhood and adulthood trauma and substance use. The strength of association between non-genetic factors and the subsequent development of schizophrenia is still largely unknown and the interaction effects between genetic and non-genetic factors vary from person to person.

• Genetic Risk Factors
• Genetic & Non-Genetic Risk
• Genetics
• Adult Life Events
• Childhood Adversity
• Congenital rubella syndrome
• Environmental Toxins
• Ethnicity
• Family Relationships
• Famine
• Infectious Agents
• Latitude, climate and winter birth
• Marital status
• Maternal diet and body mass index
• Maternal illness during pregnancy
• Migration
• Obstetric complications
• Parental age at birth
• Parental education
• Parental psychological factors
• Sex differences
• Sibship
• Social capital
• Socioeconomic Status
• Substance Use
• Traumatic Brain Injury
• Urban Environment

Ron Coleman - Working to Recovery

Ron Coleman was been active in the field of mental health since 1991. When undergoing his ow recovery from mental illness, Ron used his experiences to develop his ideas for recovery-centred treatment of others. Since then, he has gone on to write numerous books and papers on the subject, he was influential in the development of the Hearing Voices Network in the UK and was the first national co-ordinator. He worked with his wife Karen under the banner of Working to Recovery for many years, but has stepped back from these duties in recent times due to heart problems and cognitive memory issues and his focus on growing Deepness Dementia Media, a not for profit organisation that provides a space for people living with dementia to come together. He has made a new life writing poetry and plays-one of which has already been performed. You can find out more about the projects at Deepness Dementia Media.

Schizophrenia - Schizophrenia Society of New Brunswick

Schizophrenia - Schizophrenic.com

• History of Schizophrenia: Where It All Began and How Far We Have Come

• Causes of Schizophrenia

• Talented Schizophrenic Musicians Who Succeeded In Life

• Schizophrenia Pathophysiology: Key Factors In The Development Of Schizophrenia

• Managing Schizophrenia

• Types of Shizophrenia

• What Are The Characteristics and Symptoms of Catatonic Schizophrenic?

• Why Schizophrenia Has Lead To Homelessness

• ICD 10 Schizophrenia General Criteria For Diagnosis

• Five Common Variables: Study Reviewed Risk Factors For Self Injury In Schizophrenics

• What Are Movement Disorders In Schizophrenia?

• Signs That Serotonin Plays A Role In Schizophrenia

• Do Schizophrenics Know They Are Schizophrenic?

• People Experiencing a Schizophrenic Break Display Outward Symptoms

• Diathesis Stress Theory: One Established Explanation for Schizophrenia

• Acute Schizophrenia Responds Better To Treatment Than Chronic Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia & Genetics - Schizophrenic.com

• Schizophrenia isn't a single disease, but eight specific genetic disorders

• Is schizophrenia hereditary?

• Is schizophrenia genetic?

• Prenatal Environment Has Stronger Effect on Mental Illness Genes than Others

• Key to Schizophrenia May Lie Outside Our Genes

• Biomarker May Bridge the Gap Between Genes and Disease

• Creativity and Schizophrenia Might Share Genes

• Genetic Links Found for Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder

• More research supports genetic link between schizophrenia and bipolar disorder

• Genetic Mutations Provide Clues to Schizophrenia

• Genetic Mutation Linked to Schizophrenia

• Schizophrenia Genetics Linked to Disruption in Brain's Processing of Sound

• Study offers new clues into schizophrenia's genetic code

• Genetic link found between marijuana use and schizophrenia

• Scientists Create Genetic 'GPS' System to Locate and Track Nerve Cells

• Schizophrenia and memory: how a network of genes might influence the development of mental illness

• Genetic changes identified in onset of schizophrenia

• Scientists Create Genetic 'GPS' System to Locate and Track Nerve Cells

• How Our Parents' Stress Can Affect Our DNA

• Genetic mutation identified in schizophrenia risk

• Genetic Mutation and Predisposition for Schizophrenia

• Genetics and Schizophrenia - A Twin Study

• Single Changes in Two Genes Can Double Schizophrenia Risk

• Genetic Defects, Stress Linked to Abnormal Brain Development

• Sleep Disorders, Schizophrenia Share Genes

• Severe Weight Gain During Anti-psychotic Treatment May Be Genetic

• New Understanding of Genes Leads to Better Predictive Test for Schizophrenia

• Schizophrenia and autism share genetic link

• Genetic mutation identified in schizophrenia risk

• Genetic changes identified in onset of schizophrenia

• More research supports genetic link between schizophrenia and bipolar disorder

• Schizophrenia and memory: how a network of genes might influence the development of mental illness

• Study offers new clues into schizophrenia's genetic code

• GABA Genes May Play Significant Role in Schizophrenia

• Two Genes Provide Clues for Schizophrenia Treatment

• In Schizophrenia, Health and Cognitive Function May Share the Same Genes

• Genetic Counseling Helps Schizophrenia Patients

Schizophrenia Alliance - Schizophrenia and Related Disorders Alliance of America (SARDAA)

Schizophrenia Alliance (SA) is a self-help group for persons who have schizophrenia or a schizophrenia-related illness. SA was founded in the Detroit area in July of 1985 and since that time, thousands of people have participated in meetings. There are currently more than 150 groups meeting throughout 31 states, as well as Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, France, Izuela.ndia, and Venesuala. Schizophrenia Alliance is organized and managed by persons experiencing schizophrenia or a related disorder. It is administered in partnership with SARDAA.