However, if you have a brother, sister or are the child of someone with schizophrenia then you are 10 times more likely to develop the illness. The risk increases if there is more than one person with schizophrenia in the family, but the risk remains 'acceptable' in all but a tiny number of cases. The only case when it is definitely not advisable to have children is when both future parents have the illness. However, no one should make the decision not to have children because of a family history of schizophrenia without first talking to a genetics counsellor. In the last couple of years, several studies have shown that fish oil may help to reduce the symptoms of schizophrenia, even in people with a short history of the condition.
Some researchers believe that it can also help other forms of mental illness.
You would need to take supplements as high doses are required for this therapy to work. Just eating fish would not be sufficient. Some researchers think that fish oil may be used in addition to medication and not as an alternative to it. Most people with schizophrenia who take their own life do so within the first 10 years of their illness. Those most at risk have had a number of relapses, respond poorly to medication and also suffer from associated depression due to a good insight into their condition.