Schizophrenia
The term schizophrenia is used to refer to a mental condition where patients show distorted realities. This mental condition is permanent but can be managed through medication to prevent it from tempering with the life of an individual in terms of education, self-care, as well as interpersonal relations. Schizophrenia is characterized by disturbance in speech, behavior, and distortion of reality, thus impacting negatively or positively on the relation of a person with others (Falvo & Holland, 2017, p. 182). The symptoms are, therefore, divided into positive and negative, referring to things that have been increased or diminished in an individual, respectively. Mental conditions are faced with controversial outlooks in society as some people still hold the traditional view that individuals with mental conditions are only one step away from the asylum. While this may be true in some circumstances, stigmatization prevents many people from seeking treatment, thus leading to the condition worsening.
Schizophrenia, according to the American psychiatric association of 2000, is characterized by four primary symptoms. These are namely hallucinations, distortion of thought, delusion, disorganization in speech and behavior, delusions, and a flattening effect (Falvo & Holland, 2017, p. 182). While genetics is seen to play a primary role in the determination of schizophrenia, there are no clear discussions on its causes; thus, it is tied to varying environmental factors. Research shows noticeable changes in brain structure and chemical content among people suffering from schizophrenia (Falvo & Holland, 2017, p. 183). The first stage of the illness mostly appears during adolescence of young adulthood, where individuals deteriorate in general performance and concentration over time. Loss of coherence and logical organization of ideas is also presented as a major symptom alongside inappropriate emotional responses to a situation (Falvo & Holland, 2017, p. 183). Additionally, people with this mental condition experience loosening associations preventing the formation of logical and coherent thoughts because the mind moves from one idea to another. The rapid change between unrelated thoughts is sited as the primary cause of confusion among individuals.
Currently, various organizations operate globally to help people with mental conditions seek help and stop stigmatization against mental health. The Schizophrenia and Related Disorders Alliance of America (SARDAA) is one of the organizations in the United States focused on helping people living with schizophrenia. This organization was started in 2008 on 28th February through the input of different families with members were living with schizophrenia and other related disorders (“SARDAA – Schizophrenia and Related Disorders Alliance of America,” 2020). During this period, there was strong discrimination against mental health as all people with mental illnesses were viewed as crazy by society. The organization aimed to provide a haven for such individuals and generally improve their lives by providing support, among other services. The organization grew exponentially, leading to the formation of a group of directors in March of the same year before its incorporation in May as a stockless corporation (“SARDAA – Schizophrenia and Related Disorders Alliance of America,” 2020).
The organization provides a self-help program that supports people with mental conditions during treatment and on their path to recovery. The self-help program adopted can be traced back to Verbanic’s six-step program created in 1985 that operated under peer support known as the Schizophrenia Alliance (“SARDAA – Schizophrenia and Related Disorders Alliance of America,” 2020). The organization’s mission is to improve the lives of people living with schizophrenia and other related mental diseases by providing hope, education, and support during and after the recovery journey. The need for support emanates from the stigma against mental illnesses and the fact that the condition does not have a cure. The mission is well represented in the support groups offering Schizophrenia Alliance programs that are either on the self-help or peer assistance model.
SARDAA is focused on the provision of positive support to people with schizophrenia and other mental illness. This is achieved through the provision of a hotline through which the patients can communicate with counselors to guide them through the trying moments. The program adopted includes conference calls with family members and friends that encourage people to engage with treatment providers because they have trusted support, especially from family. The organization also works in collaboration with various major mental health organizations such as the National Alliance of Mental Illness, Mental Health America, and other local organizations that address mental healthcare (“SARDAA – Schizophrenia and Related Disorders Alliance of America,” 2020). The work of counselors in the organization is to guide individuals through the technical support groups and guide them towards recovery as well as educating friends and family members through the support conference call program to help eliminate discrimination and stigma in the community. This position is very important because individuals in this position are in direct contact with the patient and their immediate form of support and thus can help change the general outlook in society towards mental healthcare.
Jermaine Black is nineteen years old who has been suffering from mental related issues over the past two months. Jermaine has been experiencing psychosis where he hears voices and is convinced that everyone around him is set against him despite the fact that no one else can hear the said voices. Recently he accused his roommate of stealing and burning all his shoes while he had just cleaned them and forgotten to pick them from the rooftop after they dried. Jermaine has also been suffering in his classwork due to lost concentration, which has caused a significant decline in his grades. In the past, he has been the perfect student with perfect grades earning him several scholarships throughout his school years. His way of dressing and self-grooming has also changed drastically, where he rarely takes a bath or changes his clothes, a factor that raised warning bells with his family. Jermaine has also been unable to hold intelligible conversations lately because he moves from one topic to the next without fully presenting his ideas. This problem has made it more difficult to communicate, and thus he has cut himself off from people only talking when asked basic questions.
Due to the drastic change in character and outlook, Jermaine’s family and friends convinced him to try getting help advocating for the SARDAA organization. The reason for choosing this organization is because they could be there for him and offer support throughout the recovery process. The first program that Jermaine will utilize at SARDAA is the self-help six-step program that starts the road to recovery for people suffering from psychosis. Schizophrenia is characterized by hallucinations and delusions, which can be expressed in different ways, including hearing voices in the head (Aneja, Singhai, & Paul, 2018). Schizophrenia alliance is considered appropriate for Jermaine because he will be able to communicate with other people going through similar problems. This will make it easier to go through the treatment because he will be receiving advice from people who have walked his path before. The patient will utilize this service by calling the hotline provided where he will talk to a counselor getting advice on how to best overcome his paranoid and also recommendations on a mental health facility where he will not be met with stigma or discrimination.
The six-step model used as SARDAA is based on peer assistance, thus making it the proper model for this patient. This model incorporates admitting that a person needs help, and they cannot do it alone. This is important because Jermaine has been cutting people off and entered a life of despair and isolation. The other steps involved include; choosing to get better, being equipped with skills to help oneself and others, forgiving himself for previous mistakes, understanding the need to change personal beliefs to enhance transformation. The final step includes deciding to surrender their life to a higher power in a move to facilitate change in thinking and behavior (“SARDAA – Schizophrenia and Related Disorders Alliance of America,” 2020). Jermaine will also be introduced to the family and friends conference model, which will ensure he has support from friends and family throughout the process.