As one parent to another – information for family members:

If your loved one perceives reality in a very unusual way — hears voices that other people don’t hear, sees things that others don’t see, and/or has other uncommon experiences — this is conventionally called psychosis or “psychotic episode.”

If they think about ending their own life, this is called “suicidality” or “suicidal ideation.” Both situations — psychosis and suicidality — are what is known as a “mental health crisis.”

How do you help a loved one in a crisis?

When your kid starts talking to invisible aliens, or claims that the CIA implanted a device in their brain, or says, “I hate my life, I don’t want to live anymore,” it can be scary for you, but try not to panic. Remember that voices, visions and unusual beliefs do not, in themselves, make somebody more violent than the average person; that talking about death can mean many different things and does not necessarily predict that somebody will actually kill themselves.

Stay calm and compassionate, find the right kind of help that your child will be willing to accept, and this episode most likely will end with no lasting damage. You and your child may even learn something important from this experience.

If your loved one receives a psychiatric diagnosis such as “schizophrenia,” “bipolar disorder,” “major depression,” or “obsessive-compulsive disorder,” provide them with support and advocacy in their journey to recovery.

Many people with such diagnoses live a “normal” life – receive professional degrees, have careers and families (and no, their children have no special risk of getting some “terrible disease” or “bad genes”). We hear little about good outcomes for people diagnosed with SMI, because most of them stay silent about their experiences, fearing stigma and discrimination.

Read inspiring stories of successful people with SMI diagnoses who courageously came out of the closet.