Patient, Caregiver, and Community Schizophrenia Education Booklets

Year of Publication: 2021

• These patient, caregiver and community schizophrenia educational, non-promotional materials were created to support awareness, knowledge and education about schizophrenia and its treatment. The Journeys of Hope program includes a series of (4) booklets. Each book is anchored by character-based story-telling derived and adapted from real stories of people living with schizophrenia (through the research) while preserving anonymity and includes family members, Community Health Workers (CHWs), and others in community. Booklets include worksheets that initiate action planning such as goal setting, developing a social support network, remembering to take medication, and preparing patients and caregivers for follow-up appointments.

• Booklet one is intended for patients, caregivers the community and a general audience. This booklet provides knowledge and awareness and aims to fight stigma and create a smooth reintegration into the community for patients with schizophrenia.

• In the first phase of distribution, the booklets will be distributed by Johsnon & Johnson’s Rwanda-based Product Specialist, Blaise Ishimwe, to psychiatrists and psychiatric nurses at the (12) national and provincial public hospitals to then give to their diagnosed schizophrenia patients and caregivers and/or family families. In the second phase of distribution, the booklets will be distributed to health centers and CHWs, to give to patients, caregivers, families and interested community members.

• These patient, caregiver and community schizophrenia educational, non-promotional materials were created to support awareness, knowledge and education about schizophrenia and its treatment. The Journeys of Hope program includes a series of (4) booklets. Each book is anchored by character-based story-telling derived and adapted from real stories of people living with schizophrenia (through the research) while preserving anonymity and includes family members, Community Health Workers (CHWs), and others in community. Booklets include worksheets that initiate action planning such as goal setting, developing a social support network, remembering to take medication, and preparing patients and caregivers for follow-up appointments.

• Booklet one is intended for patients, caregivers the community and a general audience. This booklet provides knowledge and awareness and aims to fight stigma and create a smooth reintegration into the community for patients with schizophrenia.

• In the first phase of distribution, the booklets will be distributed by Johsnon & Johnson’s Rwanda-based Product Specialist, Blaise Ishimwe, to psychiatrists and psychiatric nurses at the (12) national and provincial public hospitals to then give to their diagnosed schizophrenia patients and caregivers and/or family families. In the second phase of distribution, the booklets will be distributed to health centers and CHWs, to give to patients, caregivers, families and interested community members.