As a follow up on "the soloist" I have to add that I don't have any idea what would be the best thing for those who suffer with severe mental illness like my brother does. I DO understand why they don't stay on medication (side effects). And I don't know that force is the best thing! Force is definitely awful, yet it is miraculous to see them come out of psychosis. Ideally, once a patient is out of psychosis they could be placed somewhere more long term - not like the mental hospitals of the past and emphasis on long term not FOREVER. I'm thinking more of a group home environment where they have more freedom to leave and go but they are required to have someone watch them take meds. Then if the meds are causing problems they have someone to talk to and see a doctor and make changes. Over and over until it's something they can live with. I saw something like this on that PBS special I mentioned, and I loved it. Obviously money is a huge problem. This genetic illness is very likely passed on in my genetic code, and so I can't help but think,
What would I want for my own child, or grandchild? I'm NOT planning on dealing with this as a parent, but it has crossed my mind. On the bright side, there are more and more success stories with today's medications. I think seeing a really good doctor right away would be essential to that success. Partly because over time, schizophrenia can cause the mind to deteriorate (for example cognition).
