Tips from ODSW February 2016: Caregiver's Guide to Psychosis | Page 6

Be encouraging and supportive
• Research studies have shown that being encouraging and
supportive provides a conducive family environment for
recovery.
• Critical, hostile and over-protective attitudes are threatening
and may undermine the young person’s recovery.
• Although it is useful to provide as much assistance to
the young person during recovery, it is also important to
empower the young person by encouraging independence.

Establish good relationship with the
treating team
• Keeping close contact with your psychiatrist and case
manager provides you more opportunities to understand the
illness and treatment options better.
• Doing so would also aid you in better participations in the
young person’s needs and rehabilitation.
• Write down questions you may want to ask to make most
of the meetings with your psychiatrist or case manager and
do not hesitate to ask if you have any enquiries or do not
understand the medical terms.

Engage family member in caregiving
process
• Develop a plan on how each family member can share the
caregiving responsibilities.
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