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Technology is changing the way we think about mental health care—but what does that mean for families living with schizophrenia and other serious mental illnesses?

Can technology actually make life easier for the people in the trenches—and how can families separate the genuinely useful tools from the hype?

Nicole Gillen knows what it means to be a mom navigating the complicated world of serious mental illness. In her new book, Connected Care, she explores how technology—from apps and telehealth to AI and other digital tools—can become part of the care journey. But with so many new tools appearing every day, how do we know what is actually helpful, what is safe, and what might simply add to the overwhelm? Today, Nicole joins us to talk about the possibilities of connected care—and what families need to know before they click, download, or sign up.

Nicole Drapeau Gillen is a mother, advocate, and author who translates the fast-moving landscape of technology in serious mental illness care into guidance families and clinicians can use. When she found herself thrust into caregiving for a loved one with serious mental illness, with no direction on how to help, she turned that into a mission, writing two books and building an ongoing effort to bring families and clinicians into the conversation.

Her first book, Schizophrenia and Related Disorders: A Handbook for Caregivers, is a reference for every stage of caregiving, endorsed by Dr. E. Fuller Torrey as a must-read for SMI caregivers. Her second, Connected Care: A Practical Guide to Technology for Serious Mental Illness, maps apps, AI tools, telepsychiatry, and brain-based treatments for a field moving faster than anyone can track — work Dr. Akira Sawa, Director of the Johns Hopkins Schizophrenia Center, has said "directly addresses" a significant gap.

Links

"Connected Care: A Practical Guide to Technology for Serious Mental Illness"

"Schizophrenia and Other Related Disorders. A Handbook for Caregivers"

Website

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Mindy and her book: https://mindygreiling.com/

Randye and her book: https://randyekaye.com/

Miriam and her book: https://www.miriam-feldman.com/

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Randye Kaye
Mindy Greiling
Miriam (Mimi) Feldman

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Guest: Allen Giese, author of When Mental Illness Strikes: Crisis Intervention for the Financial Plan

The episode of "Schizophrenia: Three Moms in the Trenches" features a discussion with financial planner Alan Giese, of Modera Wealth Management, about ABLE accounts and financial planning for individuals with severe mental illness.

Randye, Mindy, and Miriam, share personal updates about their sons' current situations, highlighting the challenges and fluctuations in their conditions.

Giese explains that ABLE accounts allow individuals receiving SSI or Medicaid to save money without jeopardizing their benefits, detailing the account's features, contribution limits, and eligible expenses.

The conversation also touches on the importance of special needs trusts and the role of financial planners in creating comprehensive plans.

Giese shares his personal experience with his son's mental illness and advocates for the use of professional services to navigate these complex issues.

The hosts and Giese emphasize the need for families to have informed plans in place for the future care of their loved ones.

LINKS:

https://moderawealth.com/

Link to player with SZ 3 Moms episodes about “legal and financial help”

https://www.randyekaye.com/schizophrenia-three-moms-in-the-trenches/need-legal-or-financial-help-with-smi-in-the-family-begin-here

Thanks for liking and sharing the podcast!

Mindy and her book: https://mindygreiling.com/

Randye and her book: https://randyekaye.com/

Miriam and her book: https://www.miriam-feldman.com/

Support the show

Please share and support the podcast so we can reach more people who need the info and support.

Want to know more?
Join our facebook page
Our websites:
Randye Kaye
Mindy Greiling
Miriam (Mimi) Feldman

Send a Text to the Moms - please include your contact info if you want a response. thanks!

The podcast episode featured a discussion with Dr. Martijn Figee and Dr. Alexander Charney from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai about deep brain stimulation (DBS) as a potential treatment for schizophrenia.

The doctors explained that DBS is a neurosurgical procedure involving the implantation of electrodes to target specific brain circuits, offering a durable treatment option for severe, treatment-resistant symptoms like hallucinations and delusions.

They shared that initial results from a small number of patients have been promising, with some experiencing immediate and significant symptom reduction.

The treatment is currently in the experimental stage, with ongoing clinical trials at Mount Sinai and Johns Hopkins. The ideal patient for DBS would have chronic, medication-resistant symptoms and the ability to provide informed consent and comply with follow-up care.

The conversation also touched on the challenges of schizophrenia research, the hope for future advancements, and the importance of participation in studies and brain donation for scientific progress.

Link:

https://icahn.mssm.edu/research/blau

Mindy and her book: https://mindygreiling.com/

Randye and her book: https://randyekaye.com/

Miriam and her book: https://www.miriam-feldman.com/

Thanks for liking and sharing the podcast!

Support the show

Please share and support the podcast so we can reach more people who need the info and support.

Want to know more?
Join our facebook page
Our websites:
Randye Kaye
Mindy Greiling
Miriam (Mimi) Feldman