Caregiver Support Group Resources
September 2023
Recovery After an Initial Schizophrenia Episode (RAISE) clinics
NIMH information page about RAISE clinics
An informational page about RAISE clinics from the National Institute on Mental Health. Describes the impact of RAISE clinics and the coordinated specialty care provided by these clinics, as well as additional resources.
Self-Love and Confidence in Recovery
Loving Yourself After Psychosis, Healing, and Moving Forward
A blog piece available by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) describing how to find self-love while moving forward in recovery from psychosis.
My Path to Accepting Mental Illness
A blog piece available from NAMI about recovery and what it's like to rebuild life skills and identity during recovery from psychosis.
Cannabis & Other Drugs of Abuse
Cannabis (Marijuana) Research Report: Is there a link between marijuana use and psychiatric disorders?
Brief informational article about cannabis and psychiatric disorders (including psychosis) from the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
Drugs of Abuse Guide
DEA drugs of abuse resource guide for general information about hallucinogens/psychedelics, as well as marijuana/cannabis, and other drugs of abuse.
Anosognosia
What is Anosognosia
Articles from Cleveland Clinic and NAMI detailing what Anasognosia is and its role in mental illness. Generally, it is a symptom "where the brain can't recognize one or more other health conditions you have." It is commonly perceived as denial on behalf of the patient by loved ones and caregivers.
SPECT Imaging
SPECT Scan Overview
Brief informational article what SPECT imaging (a kind of nuclear imaging that uses radioactive substances to detect blood flow and make interpretations about organ function) from the Mayo Clinic.
An in-depth look at SPECT scans
For aficionados with some knowledge about some of the brain's neurotransmitters, this peer-edited review published in Frontiers in Psychiatry discusses how SPECT looks at different biochemical systems in the brain. As an aside, it's important to know that we have an understanding that these systems contribute to the biology of psychiatric disease but we are still learning what that means, what the underlying mechanisms of disease are, and how these systems interact with each other.
Talking to Your Loved One
The LEAP Approach (Developed by Dr. Xavier Amador)
A brief overview of the LEAP (Listen, Empathize, Agree & Partner) approach.
PDF of the Book Courtesy of NAMI
Roll with Resistance Technique in Motivational Interviewing
Roll with Resistance is a motivational interviewing approach that may help people change habitual behavior that is causing problems for them or others. It helps the person feel heard and come up with alternative options.
Inspiration
The 2011 Nobel Peace Prize Winner - reminds us to take a step back and wring out our kitchen sponge.
Click Here: Dr. Gbowee Nobel Prize Page
Click Here: A Brief Video of Dr. Gbowee talking about healing
August 2023
Clozapine
Metabolic differences between Asian and Caucasian patients on clozapine
A peer-reviewed article from Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental describing differences in common metabolic outcomes between people who are Asian and Caucasian.
Angry Moms: We Are Being Heard
An article detailing updates on the Angry Moms organization's project to combat clozapine REMS.
CHAMPION-ECHO study
An article titled "Researchers Launch Study to Improve Prescribing of Clozapine for More Effective Management of Schizophrenia" featuring Dr. Deanna Kelly's CHAMPION-ECHO project at the Univeristy of Maryland.
Recovery-Oriented Cognitive Therapy (CT-R)
What is Recovery-Oriented Cognitive Therapy
A description from the Beck Institute detailing the goals of CT-R, who it can help, and how it is used in treatment. Ultimately, CT-R seeks to actualize adaptive and desired modes of living through participation in daily activities and can be particularly helpful for individuals with mental illness who have difficulty accessing motivation .
Capgras Syndrome
Capgras Syndrome chapter from StatPearls
A resource describing Capgras Syndrome, a delusional misidentification syndrome where someone believes there are identical doubles of someone close to them. Common in schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, a variety of dementias, as well as other psychiatric and non-psychiatric diagnoses.
Counseling Center (Maryland)
Columbia Counseling Center Psychological and Neuropsychological Testing
Information about the Columbia Counseling Center psych testing programs. CCC provides psychological and psychiatric services
July 2023
Antipsychotics Side Effects: Weight Gain
Managing weight gain from psychotic medications
An article from Harvard Health Publishing describing the kinds of antipsychotic medications, why they contribute to weight gain and obesity-associated diseases, and strategies to manage weight gain.
Prescription Drugs for OCD
Fluvoxamine
A brief description of the use and mechanism of fluvoxamine (Luvox) for OCD. Source: Mayo Clinic
Maryland Early Intervention Program (EIP)
Maryland EIP Webpage
The University of Maryland's EIP website. Find information about the purpose and mission of the program, their integrated approach, resources, newsletter, and online contact forms.
Clozapine & the Clozapine Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS)
Clozapine REMS Webpage
Information for patients, pharmacists, and providers about the updated Clozapine REMS. To receive treatment, a patient must be enrolled in the Clozapine REMS program by a certified provider.
The Angry Moms
An advocacy organization dedicated to making Clozapine accessible to those who need it. There is also a form for reporting problems in obtaining Clozapine through their website.
Comparative Effectiveness of Clozapine and Standard Antipsychotic Treatment in Adults with Schizophrenia
A peer-edited article published in the American Journal of Psychiatry comparing the effectiveness of initiating Clozapine or standard antipsychotic therapy in adults with treatment-resistant schizophrenia.
Psychiatrists in Maryland
US News Health Listings
A list of providers in Gaithersburg, Maryland by US News Health.
Carolyn Howell, MD
The website for Dr. Carolyn Howell who is experienced in complicated psychopharmacology and medication management as well as several forms of therapy.
Team Daniel
Team Daniel Running for Recovery from Mental Illness
A non-profit organization providing information, hope, and community.
Bed Bugs
Baltimore City Health Department
Information about bed bug infestations and treatment from the Baltimore City Health Department. The bottom of the page also has a contact form and contact information to reach out to the Health Department.
SOAR
Maryland SOAR Initiative
Webpage for the Maryland SOAR initiative, which aims to increase access to disability income benefit programs administered by the Social Security Administration for adults who are homeless or who are at risk of homelessness and have a mental illness and/or a co-occurring substance use disorder.
June 2023
Disclosure
Sharing Your Story Safely Article
A few small considerations for those thinking about sharing their experience as a caregiver.
Advanced Directives
Maryland Attorney General on Advance Directives in Maryland
A link where you can find the correct forms and instructions for advance directives in the state of Maryland. Additionally, there is information about the utility of an advance directive and how it is defined.
Colorado Advance Directives Website
Information about advance directives in Colorado as well as guidance as to when they are appropriate and what tools are available to individuals and caregivers.
Pennsylvania Advanced Directives Informational Packet
This PDF provides information and forms for the Mental Health Advanced Directive in Pennsylvania.
Maryland Residential Rehabilitation Program
Maryland Residential Rehabilitation Application
A PDF of the current Maryland Residential Rehabilitation Application and its instructions.
Loneliness
Social Enhancement Workbook
A workbook intended for individuals living with a disability with the support of a case manager or support person to help increase participation in activities in the community.
Finding Friendship with Schizophrenia Article
An article by HealthyPlace on finding friendship while living with schizophrenia.
Experiences of friendships of young people with first-episode psychosis: A qualitative study
A peer-edited article published in Plos One about the importance of focusing on supporting the development of opportunities and skills needed for social relationships following an episode of psychosis.
Beyond Recovery: Exploring Growth in the Aftermath of Psychosis
An opinion article published in Frontiers in Psychiatry about the various kinds of growth after episodes of psychosis and the changes that are required by and accompany them.
April 2023
Loneliness
Tips to Manage Loneliness Article
Article that gives practical tips to help manage feelings of loneliness and other places for support.
Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteer Match
A national resource that helps find virtual and in-person volunteer opportunities in your area. Sort by location, cause, skills, and demographic.
Volunteer with Tech Impact
A volunteer organization that is seeking volunteers to share expertise with nonprofits and aspiring IT professionals.
Maryland Sierra Club
A non-profit organization with volunteer activities focused on environmental conservation.
Maryland Food Bank
The Maryland Food Bank has volunteer opportunities for individuals and small groups.
Maryland Governor's Office on Service and Volunteerism
This site provides a list of organizations in Maryland with volunteer opportunities as well as other information about service opportunities in Maryland.
Maryland: ArcGIS Map of Volunteer Opportunities
This site provides a map displaying volunteer organizations.
Psych Education: Vocab & More
PRP: Psychiatric Rehabilitation Program
A licensed program the provides community-based rehabilitation and recovery services to support integration into the community and use of its resources. Employs evidence-based services and helps with daily life skills, work, and social functioning. The goal is to both reduce hospital admission and improve quality of life and outcomes for people living with severe mental illness.
Click Here for Maryland PRP standards and goals
University of Maryland Medical Center Programs
Anosognosia
A condition where a person is unaware of their neurological or psychiatric condition. It is associated with mental illness, dementia, and structural brain lesion. It can affect awareness of judgment, emotions, memory, and other important skills necessary for daily functioning.
More Information from StatPearls
Psychology Today: The Importance of Insight
DUP: Duration of Untreated Psychosis
A brief article describing what duration of untreated psychosis is and out it relates to outcomes, namely that DUP greater than 9 months is associated with more severe symptoms.
Often impacted by some severe mental health diagnoses, executive function refers to skills that inform the capacity to plan ahead and meet goals, display self-control, follow multiple-step directions even when interrupted, and stay focused despite distractions, among others. Additional information is provided below by NAMI Montana.
May 2023
Disclosure
Mental Illness Disclosure in the Workplace
Clinical review article from American Health and Drug Benefits on the opportunities for improvement.
The Three Cs of Disclosing Serious Mental Illness at Work
Review article from Psychiatric Services describing a framework for analyzing factors that influence decisions to disclose a serious mental illness.
Can I be fired for my mental illness?
Informational article from Mental Health America describing how to disclose an illness in a way that you can be supported in the case that the employer discriminates, what kind of advantages come from disclosing, as well as other considerations that you should be aware of.
Meditation
Headspace
A meditation app for everyone from beginners to veteran mediators available for your phone to help you incorporate meditation into your daily routine. This app does have an associated fee, but a free trial is available for first-time users.
Free Guided Meditations
Available from the Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, these meditations are not limited to people caring for people diagnosed with cancer. They are freely available online and guided. Meditations range from those to help initiate change in your life to others focused on relaxation or sleep aids.
Sleep Hygiene
Managing Insomnia for Caregivers
Available through the Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, this 6-minute read provides information about insomnia and caregiving, as well as 8 tips for sleep hygiene that focus on caregivers' needs and situations. These tips certainly are not restricted to cancer and make for a worthwhile read.
Sleep Aids
Of course, the care team's recommendations come first! SeizingPsych never provides medical advice, but this resource does provide additional ideas about alternative sleep aids. Many herbs still need to be studied to better understand if they help, but anecdotally, some people report that they do aid with sleep. Always be sure to consult the doctor about these kinds of supplements to be sure they're safe to use while taking prescriptions.
Adult Children Caring for Aging Parents
40 Resources for Adult Children Caring for Aging Parents
Caring for a parent who is aging, especially one experiencing dementia, can take a lot of time. This article from Senior Lifestyle provides 40 resources - ranging from articles to associations and apps - for caregivers of aging parents. These resources range from those to help the caregiver develop community to those that help ensure the health and safety of their parent.
Psychiatric Rehabilitation Program
MentalHealthCenters.net
To find a PRP near you, search your city, county, or zipcode on this resource. When you search, it will return a list of clinics and PRPs in your area along with a brief description of the kinds of care available at each center.
Psych Education: Vocab & More
8 Dimensions of Wellness
Wellness is composed of more than just our mental and physical well-being, although those are commonly focused on. These resources describe the 8 dimensions of wellness (physical, emotional, social, intellectual, environmental, spiritual, vocational, and financial). In some cases, it can be helpful to focus on different areas of wellness when we or our loved ones are struggling.
Click Here for a video from Northwestern
Click Here for an article describing the 8 dimensions
March 2023
What Happens to My Loved One if I Have an Emergency?
What if something happens to me? Article
Article about "What if..." including some critical to-do lists about how to prepare for care if the caregiver has an emergency. Published on Caregiver.org.
Pennsylvania Elder Law Helpline
This resource has an elder law helpline that may be able to assist with understanding how to make a plan for a loved one should something happen to their caregiver.
HartyFinancial Special Needs Planning
A financial planning team with expertise in helping families plan for the future in special circumstances. While this team specializes in families with children with special needs, they are connected in the community and may be able to provide other services or recommendations as well.
Talking to Your Loved One
WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Plan) Workbook
A workbook provided by NAMI Rockland for developing a wellness recovery action plan including blank forms and worksheets. Completing these plans with your loved one can help keep everyone on the same page and working toward mutual goals.
Boundaries for Caregivers
Decisional Balance Worksheet
A strategy for weighing decisions and instituting change in habits and lifestyle. This kind of process can help a caregiver identify when and how to make changes in boundaries as circumstances change over time. This resource includes an example, as well as a blank, printable worksheet.
February 2023
Self-Care for Caregivers
Taking Care of YOU: Self-Care for Family Caregivers
A guide to self-care from the Family Caregiver Alliance. This guide includes recommendations for identifying barriers, being responsible for your own care, and 8 tools to move forward and develop a healthy self-care regimen as a caregiver.
Hallow App
For those of the Catholic faith, this app provides a platform for Catholic meditation and prayer.
Headspace App
A non-denominational app that provides guided meditation and lessons to improve sleep, focus, and more. A 14-day free trial is available for first-time users.
Meditation Videos on Youtube
A free alternative to paid apps, there are free guided meditations available on Youtube.
Talking to Your Loved One
The LEAP Approach (Developed by Dr. Xavier Amador)
A brief overview of the LEAP (Listen, Empathize, Agree & Partner) approach.
Caregiver Mentorship
Cure SZ Foundation Friendsz Mentorship Program
This resource pairs caregivers of loved ones with schizophrenia and other serious psychiatric brain disorders and illnesses with mentors with experience caring for a loved one with a similar diagnosis.
Boundaries for Caregivers
How to set boundaries as a caregiver Article
A brief article on setting boundaries as a caregiver.
"How important is it right now?"
A question that helps to assess how urgent a situation is and the needs of your loved one.
Catch it, Check it, Change it!
A method used in some cognitive behavioral therapies to alter negative thinking. This may be helpful for caregivers who find themselves expecting negative outcomes in their thoughts ("waiting for the other shoe to drop"). The link below provides a resource by the BBC explaining the usefulness of this technique, the steps associated, and an example worksheet that you can implement in your own life.
Employment Opportunities for People Living with Mental Illness (Maryland)
A non-profit organization empowering individuals with mental illness to lead meaningful and productive lives of their choice. Has resources to help members access care, education, and part-time employment.
Goodwill STEP Program
Provides job training, case management, and career services including psych rehab programming. Scroll to the STEP section of the website below to find the links for the referral form, client handbook, and telehealth consent. Locations for the program are in Baltimore City and Carrol County.
Ticket To Work Program
A free and voluntary Social Security program that helps people who receive disability benefits return to work or work for the first time.
Psych Education: Vocab & More
Often impacted by some severe mental health diagnoses, executive function refers to skills that inform the capacity to plan ahead and meet goals, display self-control, follow multiple-step directions even when interrupted, and stay focused despite distractions, among others. Additional information is provided below by the University of California San Francisco Weill Institute for Neurosciences Memory and Aging Center.
January 2023
Self-Care for Caregivers
A guide to self-care from the Comprehensive Services on Aging. Targeted to some extent to caregivers of elderly parents with Alzheimers and related dementias, but containing helpful pointers for anyone caring for a person with memory disorders or behavioral problems related to mental illness.
A strategy for creating your network of friends, volunteering in the community through local food banks or shelters can be a way to meet new people in your community.
You can help yourself by allowing others to help you! Generate a list of easy ways someone can help you when they offer. Rather than saying there isn't a way for them to help, allow them to do one of those items on your list. Items can be as simple as asking for a hug!
Talking to Your Loved One
I Am Not Sick, I Don't Need Help Book by Xavier Amador
Dr. Amador discusses his LEAP (Listen, Empathize, Agree & Partner) approach to help your loved one gain insight into their illness and to help you learn about anosognosia, a common symptom in several mental illnesses associated with lack of insight.
Helping your loved one check in with reality when a suspicious-type of delusional thinking or hallucinations occur (instead of more directly negating those thoughts).
Day Programs and Social Options for Your Loved One
Day programs offering a occupational, peer, and/or other therapies. Structured programs may be available for full day or half day services.
B'More Clubhouse (Maryland Resource)
A non-profit organization empowering individuals with mental illness to lead meaningful and productive lives of their choice. Has resources to help members access care, education, and part time employment.
Psych Education: Vocab & More
A symptom of several mental illnesses where the person who has been diagnosed does not have insight into their illness - they do not think or believe they are sick. Additional information provided by the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
Description of Psychotic, Negative & Cognitive Symptoms of Schizophrenia
Information available from the National Institute of Mental Health
Description of Alzheimer's Disease & Related Dementias
Information available from the National Institute on Aging. Includes Symptoms, diagnosis, causes, caregiving links.
In the case of an emergency please call 911.
If located in the Harford County, Maryland area, ask the operator for a CIT (crisis intervention) officer who will be best equipped to mediate and find the best help in the case of a mental health crisis. If a CIT officer is available, they will be the responder.