How should I help before it's too late?

Family
1

Hi. my brother died when he was 24 and he was diagnosed with schizophrenia. We believe it was a suicide. My other brother reminded me of my passed away brother. He is now always unexcited and fearful. He told me that when he was in the university his whole class including his teacher were testing him and evaluating his sanity because he was different (race, political views, etc.). I actually believed him and we suggested that he comes back home and he did. He had a car accident noting major happened. He is ok, but he thinks the accident was planned so “those people” can go into his brain. Sometimes he thinks that because he is so smart and a very good speaker (he is) that “those people” want to stop him from a mission. Sometimes he is suspicious of me which really hurts because I’m the closest to him. He just broke up with his GF which he loves so much because he doesn’t trust her.

I don’t know what to do since he hates topics about mental illness and psychiatry. Before all that, all he talked about was my brother and how we couldn’t help him because were ignorant about schizophrenia and we both regretted our actions. I don’t want to do the same mistake again! I want to help my brother.What should I do? I know he would not go to see a psychiatrist. Please help me.

2

Maybe remind him of the talks you had about your other brother, that you mentioned. It’s hard to get through to someone sometimes.

3

Welcome to the forum @sista

Maybe one of the below links will help as getting your brother in for an assessment so that he can receive proper treatment would help a lot.

http://www.leapinstitute.org/ - under resources are free videos on using LEAP
LEAP is a way of communicating to build trust. Listen-Empathize-Agree-Partner.

http://dramador.com/ - Dr. Xavier Amador is a clinical psychologist whose brother had schizophrenia. He is the founder of the LEAP Institute. Wrote the book: I’m Not Sick I Don’t Need Help! Can buy from his website.
Search Xavier Amador and LEAP on youtube.com and you should find some long videos

Treatment Advocacy Center - under problems you will see anosognosia
Anosognosia looks like denial but is different.

Bayes for Schizophrenics: Reasoning in Delusional Disorders - LessWrong - helped my understand delusions

http://www.nami.org/ - National Alliance on Mental Illness.
http://www.schizophrenia.ca/ - Schizophrenia Society of Canada

Can also find some very useful information here:

Early Psychosis Treatment center information in these two links

http://www.raiseetp.org/sites/
http://psychosisprevention.org/get-involved/education-center/finding-treatment/

Psychiatric Treatment Centers affiliated with Medical Schools in the USA

This link may help you find a psychiatrist in your area

4

Don`t be afraid of telling him what you are seeing in him.
You probably already know from your other brother ( I am very sorry for him ) what the signs are. It does sound like this one is having the same symptoms.
All you can do is get educated on this illness-hopefully you can get your brother to do some research with you. **