Our conversation chronicled her experience of witnessing and managing her son’s struggles with schizophrenia. She highlighted the long prodrome of adolescent behavioural and mood changes which she pointed out typifies the onset of the illness in boys as opposed to girls.

She discussed many of the other early indicators of the illness which the family and his teachers normalised and explained away as adolescent adjustment, and these included social isolation, paranoid and grandiose ideas, odd behaviours.

We also discussed the progression of Ben’s illness as he performed poorly academically and dropped out of school, and as he struggled to maintain his family relationships and friendships.

Dr. Christine Shapter, whose specialties include Psychiatry, Child & Adolescent Psychiatry & author/radio host/podcaster, Randye Kaye, who has written extensively on experiencing life with a schizophrenic son, join Lisa Wexler to talk about the nature of schizophrenia, legal processes when people are in need of care and Randye's first experience navigating our criminal justice system.

Through the trenches of schizophrenia, love becomes our compass, resilience our strength, and hope our guide. A passionate advocate and author, Randye Kaye shares her journey as a mother navigating the challenges of having a child with schizophrenia, alongside two other mothers in a similar situation.