Schizophrenia Daily News Blog

Family, Schizophrenia and Faith

NAMI has a faith-oriented section of their web site at: NAMI FaithNet

A recent announcement was related to a new book and streaming audio discussion by one family affected by schizophrenia.

When he was 20 years old, Joel Hanson had a psychotic break. His parents, Dan and Sue Hanson, struggled with their son's schizophrenia in isolation for several years before finding NAMI.

In 2004, Dan Hanson wrote about his family's experiences in a book titled Room for J: A Family Struggles with Schizophrenia. In 2005, Dan and Sue Hanson were guests on public radio's Speaking of Faith program where they discussed the religious dimensions of their son's illness, such as his belief that he is God, as well as how it has affected their own faith and their understanding of what it means to be human.

"I think, for me, the concept of God changed with Joel's illness," said Ms. Hanson in her radio interview. "Joel forced me to see God in him, whether I wanted to or not. And then, by seeing God in him and by being forced to see God in him, I saw it so clearly in others."

The full 53 minute interview is available as a free audio download on the Speaking of Faith Web site, as are a written transcript and other related resources.

Purchase the book through the following link to Amazon.com: Room For J: A Family Struggles With Schizophrenia

To Visit the website and listen to the interview with the family: Speaking of Faith. Room for J