Women's Health March 25, 2026 0 Comments

Unlock the Hidden Power: 5 Game-Changing Ways Families Can Transform Support for Loved Ones with Schizophrenia

Ever wonder how a simple dinner table can turn into the ultimate battlefield or sanctuary when mental illness enters the picture? Gail Simmons, a culinary queen who’s as much about connecting hearts as she is about connecting flavors, realized this firsthand when her brother was diagnosed with schizophrenia. It wasn’t just about recipes or cookbooks—it was about showing up, even when words failed, and learning a brand-new language of support nobody warns you about. Life’s messy, love’s complicated, and sometimes the most profound healing happens not with grand gestures but over shared moments of quiet presence and understanding. If you think mental health conversations can’t happen over a meal, think again. Let me take you through how connection—and yes, even food—can be a game changer in navigating schizophrenia with compassion and courage. LEARN MORE

11 min read

Gail was compensated for her time.

Gail Simmons has spent much of her life bringing people together around food. Long before building her culinary career as a media personality and cookbook author, the table was where her family showed up for one another. Sunday dinners. Holiday meals. Ordinary evenings that became meaningful simply because everyone was there. In those shared moments, Simmons learned one of the most important lessons of her life: Connection matters, especially when life gets hard.

That lesson became deeply personal when her older brother was diagnosed with schizophrenia. His experience changed how her family understood mental illness and showed her what it truly meant to support someone you love. “At first, we didn’t know much,” Simmons says. “There wasn’t easy access to information the way there is now. We learned slowly, directly from his care team, and from living it day by day.”

Gradually, Simmons and her family came to understand that schizophrenia is a health diagnosis, and like any other health diagnosis, it’s out of any one person’s control. No amount of frustration can change that reality. What matters most is figuring out how to help your loved one get care while offering steadfast support. Here’s how she believes families can be there for their loved ones living with schizophrenia.

1. Show up, even when you don’t know what to say.

Some days, Simmons’ brother felt like himself. Other days, he didn’t. On the harder days, connection didn’t always look like conversation. Sometimes it meant sitting quietly together; other times it meant bringing him his favorite food or meeting for coffee at a place where he felt comfortable. “Food was never about fixing anything,” Simmons says. “It was about being together in a way that felt safe.”

Those small, everyday moments mattered more than grand gestures. They reminded her brother and the rest of the family that he wasn’t alone. And just as importantly, they showed him that he didn’t have to talk unless he wanted to. Over time, that kind of presence made space for something else: a sense of safety. When people feel protected, when they don’t feel pressured or judged, conversations can happen more naturally.

That belief is at the heart of why Simmons partnered with Bristol Myers Squibb on the COBENFY Connections campaign, which aims to highlight the importance of connection for people living with schizophrenia and how, by creating spaces where people can connect and talk openly, it can help them find the right support and treatment for them.

As part of the campaign, Simmons hosted an intimate gathering with two people living with schizophrenia, Avary and Chanel; their respective care partners, Ashleigh and Fines; and a clinical psychiatrist, Dr. Patricia Ares-Romero.† They cooked, shared a meal, and talked about life with schizophrenia. “I realized how rare it is to sit down and talk like that,” Simmons says. “I hadn’t done it in a long time, and it was incredibly powerful.”

2. Offer steady support along their treatment journey.

Schizophrenia remains one of the most misunderstood and stigmatized conditions. In the U.S. alone, an estimated 2.8 million adults are living with schizophrenia. Many feel isolated, unsure where to turn, or hesitant to speak openly for fear of judgment.

That’s why Simmons was excited to join several members of the schizophrenia community to do exactly that: have an honest conversation about the importance of connection, including how to talk openly with your doctor to find the right treatment, all while sharing a meal together. During the dinner, they spoke about what daily life looks like when you’re living with schizophrenia or you love someone who is—what’s helped, what’s still challenging, and how finding support can make a difference.

“It’s nice to know that you’re not the only one dealing with something like this.”

For Avary and Chanel, that included finding COBENFY™ (xanomeline and trospium chloride), a prescription medicine for adults with schizophrenia. It is not known if COBENFY is safe and effective in children. Please see Important Safety Information below and U.S. Full Prescribing Information, including Patient Information, for COBENFY.

Finding the right schizophrenia treatment for someone living with schizophrenia can look different for each person. This was the case for Avary and Chanel as well. Though their journeys were unique, both were able to have meaningful conversations with their doctor about COBENFY and were supported by the steady presence of their loved ones. Care partners can play a valuable role by listening, encouraging their loved one to share symptoms with their doctor, or simply being a sounding board.

In partnership with their respective doctors, Avary and Chanel ultimately chose COBENFY, which helped improve their schizophrenia symptoms overall.*

The most common side effects of COBENFY include nausea, stomach upset or burning (dyspepsia), constipation, vomiting, high blood pressure, stomach (abdominal) pain, diarrhea, increased heart rate, dizziness, and heartburn (gastrointestinal reflux disease). Please see additional Important Safety Information below.

What struck Simmons most were the similarities between their stories and her own family’s experience. Though Simmons’s brother did not take COBENFY, she recognized the same courage it takes to keep going and the same quiet strength of care partners who advocate, encourage, and stand by their loved ones day after day. “It’s nice to know that you’re not the only one dealing with something like this,” Simmons says.

3. See the person, not just the diagnosis.

During the gathering, Simmons noticed moments of unexpected joy. She learned that day that both Avary and Chanel were artists, and they proudly shared their work. It immediately reminded her of her brother, who was also deeply creative. “He was a musician, a cartoonist, and an artist,” Simmons says. “Seeing that common thread made all of us feel more connected and less alone.”

Gail Simmons for COBENFY Connections

Gail Simmons joins people living with schizophrenia and their care partners at the table.

For Simmons, one of the most important shifts families can make is remembering that schizophrenia is only one part of a person’s life. There is so much more to each individual such as their creativity, humor, quirks, and passions. Making space for all of that helps everyone stay connected. “I had to put my preconceived notions aside,” she says, “so that I could just be there [for my brother] without judgment.”

4.Be there on both good days and bad days.

One of the biggest misconceptions about schizophrenia is that support only matters during moments of crisis. In reality, Simmons says, what happens in between often makes the biggest difference. “Being there consistently, on good days and bad, sets the foundation,” she says.

That kind of consistency takes patience. It means accepting that progress may be slow, uneven, or even hard to recognize. It also means letting go of expectations about how things “should” look and learning to meet someone where they are, day after day. For caregivers, especially early on, that can be emotionally exhausting, which is why Simmons stresses that caring for yourself matters, too. “Whether that means finding someone to talk to, asking for help, or simply acknowledging how overwhelming it can feel,” she says.

Simmons’s family learned as they went. They weren’t perfect, but they stayed committed. “Doctors would tell us how lucky my brother was to have so many people involved,” she says. “Sadly, not everyone does.”

5. Talk about it, even when it feels uncomfortable.

Stigma thrives in silence. Simmons believes that simply talking about schizophrenia openly and honestly is one of the most powerful ways to change how it’s understood. That includes conversations within families, among friends, and in broader spaces where these stories are often missing. “So much of schizophrenia happens internally,” she says. “You can’t always see it, which makes it harder for people to understand. That’s why sharing experiences is so important.”

The gathering Simmons hosted wasn’t about answers or solutions. It was about listening, recognizing shared humanity, and creating a space where people felt seen. She hopes more conversations like that can happen in everyday life around dinner tables, over coffee, and in moments that feel ordinary but aren’t.

“There’s no single path for people living with schizophrenia…That’s why sharing experiences is so important.”

There’s no single path for people living with schizophrenia. Finding the right treatment for each person takes time, support, and guidance from healthcare professionals. For some, that treatment could be COBENFY.

But one thing is clear to Simmons: No one should have to navigate it alone. For her, sharing her family’s experience is about making space for others to feel seen and supported, whether they’re living with schizophrenia themselves or caring for someone who is. “If my family’s story can help someone feel less isolated,” she says, “then it’s worth telling.”

To learn more about COBENFY Connections and hear the stories shared around the table, visit connections.bms.com.

COBENFY may not be right for everyone. Individuals should talk to their doctor to determine the most appropriate approach for treating schizophrenia. Results may vary.

*In two 5-week studies, a rating scale measured changes in schizophrenia symptoms overall vs. sugar pill. Not studied for changes in individual symptoms. Results may vary.

†All participants were compensated for their time.

INDICATION

COBENFY™ (xanomeline and trospium chloride) is a prescription medicine used to treat schizophrenia in adults. It is not known if COBENFY is safe and effective in children.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Do not take COBENFY if you:

have urinary retention problems that cause your bladder to not empty completely or not empty at all
have moderate or severe liver problems (impairment)
have gastric retention problems that cause your stomach to empty slowly
are allergic to COBENFY, xanomeline, or trospium chloride, or any of the ingredients in COBENFY
have an eye problem called untreated narrow-angle glaucoma

Before taking COBENFY, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Taking COBENFY with certain other medicines may increase your risk of side effects from COBENFY or the other medicine and may affect the way COBENFY or the other medicine works. Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them to show your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.

What should I avoid while taking COBENFY?
Do not drive, operate heavy machinery, or do other dangerous activities until you know how COBENFY affects you. COBENFY may cause dizziness, confusion, seeing or hearing things that are not real (hallucinations), and sleepiness.

COBENFY may cause serious side effects, including:

Problems with emptying your bladder (urinary retention). See “Do not take COBENFY if you:”COBENFY may cause your bladder to not empty completely or not empty at all. You are at increased risk for urinary retention if you are elderly, have a blockage in your bladder, have an enlarged prostate called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), have bladder emptying problems from diabetes, or are taking higher doses of COBENFY. Urinary retention may increase your risk for getting a urinary tract infection. Call your healthcare provider or get emergency help right away if you get any signs or symptoms of urinary retention during treatment with COBENFY, including:
- difficulty urinating
- urination in a weak stream or drips
- urinating frequently
- full bladder and difficulty emptying your bladder
- pain when you urinate
Risks in people with liver problems. See “Do not take COBENFY if you:” It is not recommended that people with mild liver problems (impairment) take COBENFY because they have an increased risk of getting side effects from COBENFY. Your healthcare provider will check the liver enzyme levels in your blood before starting treatment and as needed during treatment with COBENFY. Tell your healthcare provider if you get any signs or symptoms of liver problems during treatment with COBENFY, including:
- yellow of your skin or the white part of your eyes
- dark urine
- pain and swelling in the upper right part of your stomach (abdomen)
- stomach pain that spreads to your back or to below your right shoulder
- itching
- nausea or vomiting
- loss of appetite
- fever
- chills
- light-colored stools
- tiredness
Risks in people with bile duct and gallbladder problems (biliary disease). COBENFY may cause a blockage in your bile ducts that could lead to gallstones, pancreatitis, and increases in your liver enzymes. Your healthcare provider will check your liver enzyme and bilirubin levels in your blood before starting treatment and as needed during treatment with COBENFY. Tell your healthcare provider if you get any signs or symptoms of biliary disorders during treatment with COBENFY, including:
- stomach upset or burning (dyspepsia)
- nausea
- vomiting
- pain in the upper right part of your stomach
Slow emptying of your stomach (decreased gastrointestinal motility). See “Do not take COBENFY if you:” You are at increased risk for getting decreased gastrointestinal motility if you have ulcerative colitis, already have problems with slow stomach emptying, and have myasthenia gravis. Tell your healthcare provider if you get any signs and symptoms of decreased gastrointestinal motility during treatment with COBENFY, including:
- constipation
- vomiting
- nausea
- stomach (abdominal) bloating
- stomach (abdominal) pain
- a feeling of fullness after eating just a few bites
- acid reflux
Serious allergic reactions (angioedema). Angioedema may happen during treatment with COBENFY and can be life threatening. Stop taking COBENFY and call your healthcare provider or get emergency help right away if you get any of the following signs or symptoms of a serious allergic reaction during treatment with COBENFY, including:
- hives
- swelling of your face, lips, mouth, or tongue
- swelling of your throat
- hoarseness or difficulty speaking
- breathing problems
An eye problem called narrow-angle glaucoma. See “Do not take COBENFY if you:” If you already have narrow angles in your eyes, COBENFY may cause a sudden attack (acute angle closure) of glaucoma. Tell your healthcare provider if you get any signs or symptoms of narrow-angle glaucoma during treatment with COBENFY, including:
- red eyes
- blurred vision
- seeing halos or bright colors around lights
- eye pain or discomfort
- nausea or vomiting
- severe headache
Increases in heart rate. COBENFY may increase your heart (pulse) rate. Your healthcare provider should check your heart rate before you start treatment and during treatment as needed. Tell your healthcare provider if you get a racing or pounding feeling in your chest during treatment with COBENFY.
Side effects in people with kidney problems.People with kidney problems may have an increased of risk of getting dry mouth, constipation, stomach upset or burning, urinary tract infection, and urinary retention during treatment with COBENFY.
Central nervous system problems. See “What should I avoid while taking COBENFY?”