My loved one is displaying symptoms of early serious mental illness – Where do I begin to find help?

Family members are often the first to observe early signs of serious mental illness, such as symptoms of psychosis or extreme mood changes, in their loved one’s behavior. It’s crucial to identify symptoms as early as possible and seek treatment immediately. 

NAMI’s Psychosis page provides information on the condition, current treatments, ways to support recovery, and links to fact sheets that discuss What is Early and First Episode Psychosis, Early Psychosis: What's Going On, What Can You Do, Encouraging People to Seek Help for Early Psychosis, and Early Intervention Tips for School Staff and Coaches.  You may also find the NAMI Ask the Expert Webinar: Supporting a Loved One with Psychosis to be helpful. 

NAMI’s Schizophrenia Disorder and Schizoaffective Disorder pages provide information on the conditions, current treatments, ways to support recovery and information about supporting yourself or someone else.  

NAMI’s Bipolar Disorder page provides information on the condition, current treatments, ways to support recovery, and information about supporting yourself or someone else.  

If your loved one’s symptoms of psychosis have presented within the past two years and they are between the ages of 16 to 30 years of age, they may qualify for the Coordinated Specialty Care services of a First Episode Psychosis program. 

Coordinated Specialty Care (CSC) refers to treatment programs designed for people between the ages of 16-30 who have been experiencing symptoms of psychosis for two years or less. Clinical research shows CSC to be more effective at the long-term reduction of symptoms and improvement of quality of life.  A CSC program will involve a team of behavioral specialists that work with the client and their caregivers to create a treatment plan involving: 

  • Coordination with primary care physician 
  • Recovery-oriented psychotherapy 
  • Medication management 
  • Individual and family education and support 
  • Case management 
  • Work and/or education support    

To find a CSC program in your area, you may wish to consult: 

If your loved one does not qualify for a CSC program, we suggest using the above list to build your own team. The following link includes sites offering resources for families and individuals, examples of which include (but are not limited to) the Early Assessment & Support Alliance, NAVIGATE, and Specialized Treatment Early in Psychosis (STEP). 

You may also benefit from connecting with your local NAMI, where you can participate in education courses and support groups. NAMI education courses can help you learn more about how to support your loved one who is displaying symptoms of early serious mental illness and NAMI support groups can help you build community with other families facing similar challenges. 

  • NAMI Basics is a class for parents, guardians and other family caregivers who provide care for youth (age 22 or younger) who are experiencing mental health symptoms. This course is also available in Spanish, Bases y Fundamentos de NAMI.  
  • NAMI Family-to-Family is a class for families of people with mental health conditions. The course is designed to help family members build a better understanding of mental health conditions, increase coping skills, and become advocates for their family members. The course is also available in Spanish, De Familia a Familia de NAMI. 
  • NAMI Family Support Group is a peer-led support group for any adult with a loved one who has experienced symptoms of a mental health condition. The support group helps you gain insight from the challenges and successes of other families with similar experiences. 

Hours of operation Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. EST 

Call: 800-950-NAMI (6264) 

Text: 62640 

Webchat: www.nami.org/help  

Email: helpline@nami.org

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