Episode 46. Schizophrenia with Randye Kaye – Author of Ben Behind His Voices

I am joined in this podcast by Randye Kaye to discuss the patient and family perspectives of schizophrenia as she narrated in her memoir titled Ben Behind His Voices. Randye is a radio and podcast host, actress, singer, teacher, mental health advocate, and motivational speaker who speaks to groups of doctors, nurses, medical students, families, providers, and legislators regarding the family experience when mental illness hits.

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. Randy also explored the long journey they took to getting a diagnosis, and longer still to get effective treatments, delays she argues contribute to poorer outcomes in schizophrenia. She discussed his different treatments, and his struggles to adhere to them.

Other themes we covered are the familial and environmental vulnerabilities to schizophrenia, its social triggers, the stigma of mental illness, how to support families coping with schizophrenia, and the importance of maintaining hope.

Randye also leads fun and interactive workshops on teamwork, customer service, self-esteem, presentation skills, and humour, and gives inspiring keynotes about connection and communication. She has narrated almost 190 audiobooks to date.