NAME:    Edward Monks AGE: 43 years CASE: January 12th: found on a park bench at 8 in the evening wearing only shirt and trousers. Talking loudly to himself, being abused by youths. Taken to police station where his wife is contacted.

The extra stress Edward experiences when he has to find a new job causes him to behave oddly. His medication may need attention.

NOTES

Mr Monks is schizophrenic and normally lives happily with his wife and two children – Josie and Chloe (8) and Richard (13). Schizophrenia managed by medication.

Mr Monks experiencing new stresses. Recently discovered the small printing firm he has worked at for 13 years is to close. Is concerned about interviews for new job (disclosing illness) and is worried about new surroundings and new people.

GP recommends new medication to help him over extra stress but this has a side effect – namely his mouth often feels dry. Result – when he speaks he sounds as if he's drunk.

Additional concern: children (Chloe and Richard) are bullied at school because of father's illness; they have no close friends and don't bring friends back to the house. Q: to what extent does Edward feel responsible?

RELEVANT FACTORS

• Consider the effects of schizophrenia. It's a mental health issue. People with Schizophrenia sometimes find it hard to relate to other people – to understand how other people are feeling for instance. Sometimes they imagine they hear voices. Edward's illness is usually kept under control with medication; but something has happened in his life that's put everything out of balance.
• Edward needs confidence in interview techniques and in controlling the effect of his 'voices' when he hears them.
• How can Edward overcome the side-effect of his dry mouth?
• Edward is nervous about meeting and working with a lot of new people and of working in surroundings he's not familiar with.
• What are the causes of the children being bullied? This is also a family concern, how may this be dealt with?