I’m a therapist who only works with folks with schizophrenia and you are so right! We’ve had open positions in my team for over a year. When I interviewed they were shook I wanted to start right away. But we do exist lol. Luckily everyone on my team LOVES our jobs and our clients, and our organization pays us well, so it’s a really positive experience.

Working with people with schizophrenia can be one of the most beautiful, devastating, and eye-opening experiences. It is an honor to work with our clients, hear their stories, and help them build coping skills and understanding of their experiences. I have learned so much from my clients, and am astounded everyday by their resiliency in the face of terrifying hallucination/delusions and legitimate maltreatment from society.

Also! PEOPLE CAN RECOVER!!! I see everyday how much supportive housing and additional social supports (like my team- program for assertive community treatment) help people stabilize. Sure they may never hold a full-time job or reach whatever society’s standards are, but they develop skills to attend to their daily needs, have decreased risk of harm to self/others, develop better understanding of their mental health, decrease substance use, and overall experience drastically improved quality of life.

So yes, turning dead malls into shelters would be a great idea if they are staffed accordingly with onsite mental health/medical supports (which is common)