In this episode of SMI Spotlight, host Dr. Xavier Amador talks with actor and advocate Michele Hicks about her brother’s journey with schizophrenia and what it means to be a family caregiver.Michele shares her deeply personal story — from recognizing her brother’s first symptoms and navigating interactions with police and providers, to understanding anosognosia (lack of insight), the limits of HIPAA, and the emotional toll of caregiver burnout and guilt.She also discusses how her experience inspired her advocacy work with Treatment Advocacy Center, the importance of including families in treatment, and how the media industry can help portray serious mental illness with honesty and compassion.Hosted by Dr. Xavier Amador, SMI Spotlight explores real stories and expert perspectives on severe mental illness (SMI) — bringing awareness to conditions with psychosis like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder while highlighting the people and policies shaping better care.Video Sections:

• (00:00) - Intro
• (01:31) - Michele Hicks
• (01:47) - Intro to Michele's advocacy work with TAC
• (02:20) - How is Michele's brother now
• (02:56) - Interactions with police
• (03:42) - The start of Michael's symptoms
• (04:39) - Intellectual disability with schizophrenia and anosognosia
• (05:56) - Being a parentified child caregiving for siblings with challenges
• (08:04) - Interactions with medical providers
• (09:57) - HIPAA
• (10:28) - Michele's advocacy work
• (10:58) - Navigating HIPAA as a family member
• (12:57) - Navigating burnout as a family caregiver
• (14:19) - Navigating feelings of guilt
• (15:59) - Michele's relationship with her brother
• (17:39) - Media industry and depictions of SMI
• (18:58) - Mental Health vs Mental Illness
• (19:32) - How Michele got involved with TAC
• (22:03) - Importance of self care
• (22:46) - Involving families in treatment as much as possible
• (24:05) - Ways of processing - not calling
• (26:40) - The weight of responsibility as a caregiver
• (28:14) - The role of creatives spreading stories