Stay Abreast of All Things Related to Caregiving for Someone with a Serious Mental Illness
About Nicole Gillen
Nicole began her journey as a caregiver in this world of schizophrenia in 2020 when her daughter became sick. After thrashing about for a few years, finding herself frustrated and desperate for information, she wrote the book on caregiving for someone with an SMI.
Nicole attempts to address the myriad of issues that face caregiver in her book, “Schizophrenia & Related Disorders: A Handbook for Caregivers“:
- From the Beginning of the Journey: (Treatment: Medication primer, treatment primer, etc.; Hospitals, Case Managers, and more; and Doctors (working with, talking to, finding))
- Ongoing…(Communication, Definitions, Family & Friends; Support Groups: For yourself & your loved one; and Creating your ongoing paper trail)
- Could Happen Anytime (Housing / Homelessness; Navigating Jail & Police; and Crisis: Suicidal Ideation, Arrests, Run away, etc.)
- Getting The Right Support Setup (Legal: Advanced Directives; Legal: Power of Attorney, Conservatorship, Guardianship; and Financial: SSI, SSDI, Other government services)
- Long term issues (Budgeting; Estate Planning, Trusts & Letter of Intent; and Transition to self support for your loved one)
- And so much more!
Blog Roll ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SMI Consultancy
Our consultancy services are tailored to steer you towards success as a caregiver. Partner with us, and together we’ll get the most support you possibly can for yourself or your loved one.
Endorsements from the Community
Dr. E. Fuller Torrey, MD – Founder, Emeritus Treatment Advocacy Center and author of over 20 books, including “Surviving Schizophrenia: A Manual for Families, Consumers, and Providers.” Associate Director of Research, Stanley Medical Research Institute, Bethesda, Maryland says this about the book:
Public Speaking
Nicole continues to find ways to help caregivers across the US by getting the word out. Join her newsletter list for information on upcoming conferences and events. She speaks at Universities, Support Groups, Podcasts, and more. You can find her on:
“Schizophrenia is a complicated and difficult disease for caretakers to manage. This is not only because of the nature of the disease itself, but also because of the disjointed mental illness treatment system in this country. The author, who has a daughter with schizophrenia, has written a very useful handbook for caregivers. It is especially relevant for those who are encountering schizophrenia for the first time. The book is eminently practical with an extensive table of contents which allows readers to easily find what they are looking for. Other books may provide more details on specific subjects, but this book is a very good one to start with.”
The Book:
Schizophrenia & Related Disorders:
A Handbook for Caregivers
$ 21.95
You can buy the paperback book on Amazon in print format.
What people are saying
“If you have a loved one with serious mental illness, this book is a comprehensive guide to start you on your journey and accompany you along the way. It is filled with helpful information and resources. Get yourself a copy and keep it close at hand.”
— Dr. Ann Mandel Laitman, MD, co-author of MEANINGFUL RECOVERY from Schizophrenia and Serious Mental Illness with Clozapine: Hope & Help
“This guide is a must-read for caregivers of people with a severe mental illness. It is a fast read, making complicated matters easy to understand. It is a valuable resource for families as well as mental health professionals.”
— Bethany Yeiser, President and Co-founder of the CURESZ Foundation
Contact me
We’d love to hear from you! Drop us a line below and we’ll do our best to get back to you within one business day.
schizophrenia-caregiver.com 