Right Kind of Help

The best help is the one that the person is willing to accept. Good mental health providers work in collaboration with the patient/client and the family. They know how to build trust, to deescalate, and to connect with somebody in crisis, even when the person is deeply disturbed, delusional, or paranoid.

Professional help comes in two broad varieties - clinical and non-clinical. Clinical mental health providers include psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, social workers and counselors.

Non-clinical providers are mostly peer supporters — people with their own personal experience of a mental health crisis or a serious mental illness diagnosis who have recovered and received professional training in how to help others going through similar hardships. They are known as “people with lived experience.” Authentic (uncoopted) peer support is among the best options for families seeking help for their loved ones. Don’t think that “non-clinical” means inferior or working only for mild conditions.

If you are looking for clinical help, try to find a provider who has empathy, is able to build emotional connection and is trained in one or more evidence-based non-coercive treatment methods for serious mental illness.

Finding the right help may not always be easy, but it is worth it. For a young person with a first-episode psychosis, especially in the early stage of psychosis, finding a voluntary option can mean a difference between full recovery and developing a chronic condition.
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