[yoyo11]

I joined this site in hopes that I could get some help. If anyone can help me please do because as of right now, I'm lost. I have a friend that might quite possibly have schizophrenia. I've been researching and some of the symptoms fit her. Her father has schophrenia as well and that's where I got concerned because she thinks that maybe she might have it. The only problem is that she doesn't have the insurance to afford to see a doctor about her concerns. I'm just wondering if there is any other way to find out if there is any possible way for her to get help.

[spiritual_emergency]

What I would recommend is that you get her in touch with some other people who have undergone similar experiences. In brief, introduce her to this site or another one like it.

This thread might also have some ideas for you: http://forums.psychcentral.com/showthread.php?t=125969

[siegfried]

I have been fortunate enough to live in areas where free or relatively cheap psychiatric clinics are available. But, the catch is, one has to have very limited financial resources. Perhaps the county you live in will have some sort of mental health/mental retardation facilities available. Good luck, Siegfried.

[yoyo11]

Thank you for your input. But the issue still remains of her inability to receive medical attention. Plus, she doesn't have internet to access this site regularly. My main concern is basically whether or not she is at risk for schizophrenia.

[yoyo11]

That last reply I posted was for spiritual emergency, siegfried. I will look into that though. Thanks

[spiritual_emergency]

Hello yoyo,
In your earlier message you'd noted: ... she thinks that maybe she might have it. The only problem is that she doesn't have the insurance to afford to see a doctor about her concerns. I'm just wondering if there is any other way to find out if there is any possible way for her to get help.

What's going to be available will vary according to state/province/country/jurisdiction etc. so the first thing she could do is to start exploring what's available locally. Search engines were made for such moments! What might be ideal is if she can connect with a mental health hotline or local support group. They would be better placed to give her some specific ideas that will be practical to her geographical location. However, online resources can also be very helpful in terms of self-education and connecting with peers. In turn, it tends to be peers who can offer a great deal of information regarding treatment options and coping strategies.

Generally speaking, most forms of treatment revolve around medication these days. A person who doesn't have insurance can sometimes get by on free samples but that's not a very dependable resource. I have heard that some companies will distribute free medication to people who are in dire straits. Your closest NAMI organization might be able to offer more specific information. Some people also secure treatment by taking part in various studies but this too tends to be sketchy and the individual will have no control over the treatment which will only be short term anyway.

Other forms of treatment revolve around psycho-therapeutic approaches. Usually, these are used as an adjunct form of treatment although in some places, it's the primary form. Depending on what is actually going on for her, she may be able to find a therapist who will take her on a sliding fee scale. It won't cost her any money to ask.

Something that also tends to happen in these cases is the individual becomes disabled to the extent that they're not able to work. In these cases she may be eligible for some degree of social funding that might even include medication costs. Again, a local support group would be a good starting point for some answers.

Occasionally, people may find themselves working through these crises independant of any professional assistance. Most often, it's not so much that they choose to go that route as it's just the way their path takes them. In some cases, they make it through; in others, they falter and flounder.

In the link I placed up above, I spoke about Support Teams. It's probably best, I think, if a person can pull a team together for themselves, ideally comprised of formal and informal forms of support. If you're her friend, it sounds like she's already got at least one person on her team and that's a starting point.

Hopefully, there's a few more ideas there for you and your friend.

~ Namaste