How do I help my friend?

I think my friend has schizoaffective disorder. I looked it up in the DSMV, and she seems to fit about five of the symptoms.

She lost her job because of an "event" where she freaked out and threw out identity cards. I'm not sure of the details, but it sounds like she may have had delusions or hallucinations, been catatonic and taken to the ER.

Following the episode, she was highly paranoid and had a lack of hygienic functioning.
It's been about six months and she's depressed and angry and still somewhat paranoid, although she's gotten a lot better.

Unfortunately, she's stuck at her parent's house. The bus is too far to walk and they won't drive her anywhere; she doesn't have a job or money to get a place to live on her own.

How do I help her? She won't see a counselor, and doesn't recognize her symptoms as symptoms. I live too far away to drive her to everything she needs to go to-- plus, I have school and work.
She seems afraid to live with me, or outside of where she lives now.

She's extremely bright and was very high-functioning before her episode-- she had amazing grades and a promising future. She's my best friend, and I'm very worried, and I don't want her to hurt herself-- she's starved herself in the past. Her parents don't seem helpful at all. Sometimes I don't hear from her for weeks.

Any advice?

this is a really tough position to be in. you sound like a good friend. other than continuing to support her as you have been there is not much you can do. she has to recognize that she needs help before she is going to accept it. continue to encourage her and hopefully she will accept one day.

I agree with Kaliope and you sound like a great friend

You're a great friend. Is it possible that she's too embarrassed to admit that she's getting help? I hate to put more on you, but have you looked in to what's available in your area, mental health-wise? Maybe check with the local health department, United Way or calling 211. Ask about sliding scale places. I live in small-town America and there are free health clinics in every county in the area. They have psychiatrists and/or psychiatric nurses. Maybe if you have information on hand, you can convince her to give it a try.

Thanks for being such a good friend.

You are a good friend. Your friend sounds a lot like me actually.

I think the best thing you can do is to continue to be a good friend so that she might eventually open up about a lot of what she's going through and has been through and you can just listen and be supportive and maybe at some point let her know that there are potential options for getting help.

That's a good idea. I've talked to her about counseling in general, but maybe if I make sure she has all that information available she'll be more likely to pursue it.