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    • Connecting to support

    Resources for Family & Friends

    You are Not Alone

    When someone you care about begins exhibiting concerning behavioral changes, it can be confusing and stressful. You may not know where to turn or may feel you don’t have the right skills to help, even with those people closest to you. Here are some helpful links to organizations that offer family support. Not all may be relevant for all family members.

    Family Resources

    “A Look Inside Early Psychosis Care in Pennsylvania”

    At a PA FEP (First Episode Psychosis) center, treatment is designed with each individual in mind and involves many types of trained, caring professionals who will work with each person on a plan of recovery. The Coordinated Specialty Care (CSC) model is a comprehensive and team-based model, emphasizing hope, empowerment, and collaborative management of care. Watch this short video to learn more.

    Video Link

    HeadsUp Animated “What is Psychosis Video”

    A simple, short educational video to use and share.

    "What is Psychosis?" Video

    HeadsUp Animated Video “What is Coordinated Specialty Care?”

    A brief educational video from HeadsUp about Coordinated Specialty Care which is the type of care someone receives at a Pennsylvania First Episode Psychosis (FEP) Center.  It is available for use to help spread information about psychosis to those who may need support.

    What is Coordinated Specialty Care?

    HeadsUp Early Psychosis Family Pamphlet

    A guide for caregivers who may be supporting someone experiencing early psychosis

    Family Pamphlet

    HeadsUp Navigating a Mental Health Crisis Insert

    Navigating a Crisis Insert

    Protecting Your Child’s Mental Health in College: What Can Parents Do?

    A resource provided by the JED foundation

     

     

    NAMI Mental Health College Guide

    This guide was made to help students navigate some of the life changes that come with heading off to college.

    NAMI College Guide

    NAMI Keystone

    “NAMI Keystone Pennsylvania is a 501(c)(3) grassroots, nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of children, adolescents, adults, and families affected by mental illness through recovery-focused support, education, and advocacy.”

     

    NAMI Keystone

    Schizophrenia and Psychosis Action Alliance

    “A Global Impact Organization Moving Individuals, Families, and Policies Forward to Improve and Save Lives; leading a movement to improve care, support, and equity for the millions of people living with these conditions.”

    Schizophrenia and Psychosis Action Alliance

    RAISE Resources for Patients and Families

    National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) list of resources to assist in increasing understanding of diagnoses, symptoms, treatment options, and strategies for living with psychosis.

    RAISE Resources for Patients and Families

    Students with Psychosis

    “Students With Psychosis offers 28+ hours of programming each week available at no cost to students and advocates globally. Over 75% of SWP leadership is from the lived experience perspective. It is their mission to empower student leaders and advocates worldwide through community building and collaboration.”

    Students with Psychosis

    Voice Collective

    “A UK-wide, London-based project that supports children and young people up to 25 years old who hear voices, see visions, have other ‘unusual’ sensory experiences or beliefs. Offers support for parents/families, and training for youth workers, social workers, mental health professionals and other supporters.  Funded by BBC Children In Need and the John Lyon’s Charity.”

    Voice Collective

    Early Assessment and Support Alliance (EASA)

    EASA provides information and support to young people experiencing symptoms of psychosis for the first time.

    EASA

    Living Well with Schizophrenia

    “This is a channel dedicated to increasing knowledge around schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and mental illness. These videos are intended to be a resource for people with the diagnosis, their loved ones, and for people who just want to learn more about the illness.”

    Living Well with Schizophrenia

    The School of Hard Talks Online

    Created by Handhold, a team of mental health and child development experts in partnership with parents, these seven short lessons illustrate strategies you can use in any situation to have calmer, more productive interactions. It’s a great resource for parents who want to support their almost-grown-up kids in making healthy decisions.

    Families for Depression Awareness

    “Helps families recognize and cope with depression and bipolar disorder to get people well and prevent suicides. Offers education, training, and support to unite families and help them heal while coping with mood disorders.”

    Families for Depression Awareness

    Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA)

    “Offers peer-based, wellness-oriented support and empowering services and resources available when people need them, where they need them, and how they need to receive them—online 24/7, in local support groups, in audio and video casts, or in printed materials distributed by DBSA, their chapters, and mental health care facilities across America.”

    Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance

    A Sibling’s Guide to Psychosis

    A guide intended to provide information and support to teens and young adults who have a sibling experiencing psychosis.

    Sibling's Guide to Psychosis

    Minding your Mind

    “Dedicated to ending stigma and destructive behaviors associated with mental health issues, moving away from a crisis-based response to prevention through education. We use the power of storytelling to provide evidence-based education on mental health challenges to our audiences. Our inspiring programs create safe communication spaces to discuss signs and symptoms often associated with mental health challenges and how to address them.”

    Minding your Mind

    Pennsylvania Health Law Project

    “PHLP is a non-profit legal services organization that represents Pennsylvanians who need help getting or keeping MA. Visit their online resource library to find self-help materials related to various health care topics including MA.”

    PHLP

    PA Medicaid-PH95 Guide

    This guide is offered through the Pennsylvania Health Law Project and explains the process of getting medical assistance for a child with a disability, behavioral or Autism Spectrum Disorder under the PH-95 Category. This guide explains the rules that apply to children with physical disabilities or behavioral disorders. Note: This guide does not deal with the eligibility for Medical Assistance of children who are in foster care or otherwise in custody of a county children and youth agency.

     

    Medicaid-PH95

    PA Medical Assistance for Workers with Disabilities (MAWD) A Guide to Eligibility

    “Medical Assistance for Workers with Disabilities (also called “MAWD”) is a state health insurance program for individuals who have chronic health problems and are working. MAWD is often a good option for individuals who have too much income to qualify for other categories of Medical Assistance (MA) but who nonetheless need health insurance. MAWD provides comprehensive health insurance coverage and, compared to other MA programs, MAWD has high income and resource limits. It also has flexible work and disability requirements. This guide explains each MAWD eligibility requirement in depth, and tells you how to apply.”

    PA Medicaid MAWD

    Myth vs. Fact on Serious Mental Health

    Serious Mental Health Advisor addresses some of the many myths around serious mental illness (SMI) that are not accurate.

    Myth vs. Fact on Serious Mental Health

    Caregiver Action Network

    “Working with family members of people affected by mental health concerns, offering a Blueprint – a guide for families of a loved one with mental health issues.”

    Caregiver Action Network

    Emotions Anonymous

    “The EA membership is composed of people who come together in weekly meetings for the purpose of working toward recovery from emotional difficulties. EA members are from many walks of life and are of diverse ages, economic statuses, social and educational backgrounds. The only requirement for membership is a desire to become well emotionally”

    Emotions Anonymous

    The Schizophrenia Oral History Project

    “The Schizophrenia Oral History Project (TSOHP) is an archive of life stories of persons with schizophrenia. Our narrators are women and men with schizophrenia who are sharing their lives in an effort to increase understanding and reduce stigma related to mental illness. Their stories reveal not only their struggles, but their remarkable courage and resilience, their hopes, dreams and talents, and their concern for others. In addition to documenting their histories, we are sharing their stories in presentations for professionals and the general public.”

     

    The Schizophrenia Oral History Project

    PFLAG

    “PFLAG is the first and largest organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) people, their parents and families, and allies. With nearly 400 chapters and 250,000 members and supporters crossing multiple generations of families in major urban centers, small cities, and rural areas across America, PFLAG is committed to creating a world where diversity is celebrated and all people are respected, valued, and affirmed.”

    PFLAG

    The Trevor Project

    “The Trevor Project is the leading suicide prevention and crisis intervention nonprofit organization for LGBTQ young people. We provide information & support to LGBTQ 
young people 24/7, all year round.”

    The Trevor Project

    Job Accommodation Network (JAN)

    “The leading source of free, expert, and confidential guidance on job accommodations and disability employment issues. Serving customers across the United States and around the world for more than 35 years, JAN provides free one-on-one practical guidance and technical assistance on job accommodation solutions, Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and related legislation, and self-employment and entrepreneurship options for people with disabilities.”

    Job Accommodation Network

    Mental Health First Aid Guidelines for Loved Ones

    Mental Health First Aid information and guidance for the loved ones of those suffering from psychosis.

    MHA Guide for Loved Ones

    Mind Apps-Health Index & Navigation Database

    “There are an estimated ten thousand mental health apps available today, offering a range of possibilities from connection with a clinicain to symptom monitoring. Apps can be useful in care, but it’s important to be cautious about choosing a suitable app. The goal of this database is to equip users with the information necessary to make a decision based on the app characteristics that matter most to them.”

    MindApps

    Questions for HeadsUp?

    Catherine (Cat) Conroy, M.Ed, Manager of HeadsUp
    Neurodevelopment and Psychosis Section, Department of Psychiatry
    Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
    10th floor, Gates Pavilion, HUP
    3400 Spruce Street, Rm. 10054, Philadelphia, PA 19104
    headsuppaorg@gmail.com

    We are available during standard business hours (Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm) to answer any questions you may have about our organization or to direct you to programs in Pennsylvania that can offer clinical help.