Do You Help Old Ladies Cross the Street?

If you are the kind of person who helps old ladies cross the street, use some of that attitude in rethinking your treatment and interaction with a person who has schizophrenia and lives nearby. This doesn’t mean that you need to be overly friendly, but please don’t ignore them as this is the worst thing you can do. You can engage them in conversation without being intrusive. People with schizophrenia, like a physically frail person, cannot defend himself/herself the same way as someone in full possession of their physical powers. They are often on heavy doses of medication which may slur their speech or make them react slowly. Please take into account that sometimes that person might be anxious and may withdraw. That’s okay, but leave the door open. Maybe ask him/her to visit you when he/she feels able to do so. Offer a cake or a plant or … any other friendly gesture. Send them an e-mail with a brief, friendly message every now and then. They will be ever so grateful.