A Counselor wants to know how to help a father who says: “My son is suffering from Schizophrenia since 2015. He is 28 years old. He is on medicines. But from two months his conditions became worse. Please suggest for increasing doses of medicines.”

The Counselor may enquire about possible reasons for worsening of symptoms. For eg: drug default, recent infections, environmental changes which may have led to high stress levels. The Counselor can find out the district to which the patient belongs. The Community Mental health team at NIMHANS can help in booking appointment with the respective district level local mental health team through DMHP services in the Karnataka state. This is helpful for control of symptoms in lockdown phase. (Thereafter, the patient needs to be evaluated by a psychiatrist for nature of behavioural changes either by face – to – face interview or Tele-consultation. Other treatment details needed include treatment history – medicines used, response to medication, side effects to drugs, etc). Patient may be brought in to psychiatry emergency at NIMHANS or any other Non-Covid hospitals on any day  if  he  /she  is  in Bangalore. After an initial COVID screening, patient will be attended to. If    the patient is in some  other  /city state,  it  would  be   important  for  the  counselor  to provide  a   local  psychiatric   service  contact  to  the  client  or   actively   liaison  with    a local psychiatrist   for    getting  the   help  needed   for  this  client’s  son.  He may warrant admission, if the patient is unmanageable at home. Medications such (as advised by psychiatrist  may be  used  to  calm the patient and for easy transit to the hospital.