Schizophrenia is a serious illness, one that has an impact on every aspect of the sufferer's life.
When drawing up a strategy for treatment, we need to address the effects of the illness on a person's life and develop a whole-life strategy. A whole-life approach should look at the user's relationships and family. It is stressful for relatives to support a mentally ill person, and relationships can break down. In these circumstances, advice on relationships for all members of the family would be helpful, along with support groups or befriending schemes when these relationships are no longer working. Mental health service users can lead productive, well-ordered lives, if they are given opportunities and support.