Schizophrenia and Social Drivers of Health

How do SDOH affect daily life?

People living with schizophrenia are more likely to face unique challenges when it comes to SDOH. These include:

Healthcare access. For a variety of reasons, many people with schizophrenia do not have, or do not use, health insurance. Health insurance is critical for a person with schizophrenia. The course of schizophrenia may be affected by early treatment interventions and the use of a multidisciplinary care approach. Your loved one's successful management of schizophrenia—and your power to help—requires lifelong, stable, comprehensive health services. These services treat schizophrenia's complex psychiatric symptoms and provide ongoing evaluation and management of medicine needs. People with schizophrenia are also at greater risk of a number of other diseases and premature death, adding even more importance to the need for health insurance.

Food insecurity. Your loved one may not have access to nutritious food. People living with mental illness are also less likely to have money to pay for food. They may not have a way to get to grocery stores, or a place where they can cook a meal.

Environment. Did you know that where you live may impact whether you develop schizophrenia? For example, people are more likely to have it if they:

• Live in an urban area.

• Live in a home with lead. Kids exposed to lead at a young age are more likely to develop schizophrenia as adults.

• Live in a neighborhood where they’re exposed to crime.

• Move from another country, particularly as a refugee.

People who have schizophrenia are also more likely to live in unsafe neighborhoods. This is usually because their housing options are limited. Sometimes, this can lead to homelessness.

Discrimination. Some people may not understand schizophrenia or know what it is. This may cause them to treat people with schizophrenia differently, making it hard for them to find healthcare, education, housing, or even a job.

What can you do?

In some ways, it may seem like SDOH are outside your control. But the good news? By providing your loved one with support, you can help improve their situation. Here are some ways you can make a difference:

Healthcare access. Contact Medicare ( https://www.medicare.gov/) and Medicaid ( https://www.medicaid.gov/) to determine your loved one's eligibility for government health insurance. If they are a veteran, the Veteran Administration is a great resource ( https://www.va.gov/health-care/health-needs-conditions/mental-health/). Advocacy groups such as NAMI ( https://www.nami.org/) can also provide your loved one and family members with ideas and support.

Help them find housing. People with schizophrenia often have trouble finding jobs. When this happens, they often live on supplemental security income (SSI). This may make it hard for them to find an affordable home. But you can help them apply for government support. If they shouldn’t live alone, consider group housing. They will have trained staff on-site to help them with tasks like taking medicine, making meals, and going to healthcare appointments. For more information, visit the National Alliance on Mental Health at https://www.nami.org/Your-Journey/Individuals-with-Mental-Illness/Finding-Stable-Housing

Encourage them to find a job. Getting and keeping a job when you have schizophrenia can be very difficult. Here are some agencies that can help:

• Your state’s vocational rehabilitation office assists people who live with disabilities find work.

• SourceAmerica ( www.sourceamerica.org) is the largest network of job opportunities for people with disabilities.

• AbilityJOBS ( https://abilityjobs.com) is a job website for people with disabilities.

• GettingHired ( www.gettinghired.com) connects you with employers who hire people with disabilities.

Go with them to healthcare visits. Schizophrenia can make it hard for someone to make appointments and go to them. Ask your loved one if it’s OK for you to talk with their healthcare provider. If they agree, the healthcare provider will have your loved one sign a form that allows this. You can also offer them a ride to therapy or other medical visits, so that they’ll stick with their treatment plan.

Keep tabs on their medicines. You may notice that your loved one has a hard time taking their medicines regularly. They may not think they need them, or they may not like the side effects. Be supportive and help them set up a system to ensure they take their medicines when and how they’re supposed to.

Make time for healthy habits. Take them grocery shopping or cook them a healthy meal. You can also enroll them in nutrition assistance programs like Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Watch for signs of alcohol and drug use. Both can worsen symptoms.

Create a crisis plan. If your loved one is competent, this plan should be done when the person is stable and can contribute and consent to the information being shared. The plan may help in case there’s an emergency.

Your loved one’s plan should include:

• Phone numbers for their therapists and healthcare providers

• Contact information for family members and friends your loved one wants to be contacted

• Addresses and phone numbers for local crisis centers and emergency rooms

• Their diagnosis and list of medicines

• A list of triggers

• Treatments that have helped in the past

Living with schizophrenia is difficult enough without the extra pressures of SDOH. And while you probably want to do everything within your power to help your loved one, remember that even small steps can have a lasting impact. Whether you’re helping them look for housing or driving them to a healthcare visit, your support goes a long way in helping them feel seen and valued.