HBO’s “Six Schizophrenic Brothers” Sister and Advocate Lindsay Mary Galvin Rauch
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- Опубліковано 27 вер 2024
- Content/Trigger Warning: This conversation includes sensitive topics of sexual abuse, violence, suicide, and homicide. It is not suitable for younger audiences.
We delve into the complex and deeply personal story of the Galvin family, which has played a significant role in the history of schizophrenia research. Our guest, Lindsay Mary Galvin Rauch, is the youngest of twelve siblings in the Galvin family, six of whom were diagnosed with schizophrenia. Their family's genetic material has been a cornerstone of nearly every major genetic study on the disorder since the 1980s, contributing invaluable insights into the genetic underpinnings of schizophrenia.
Lindsay shares her unique perspective growing up in a large family profoundly affected by mental illness, as chronicled in Robert Kolker's award winning book Hidden Valley Road and the HBO 2024 documentary Six Schizophrenic Brothers.
Hidden Valley Road has achieved a long list of accolades…
Instant #1 NEW YORK TIMES best-seller
Official selection of OPRAH’S BOOK CLUB
A NEW YORK TIMES, WALL STREET JOURNAL, and WASHINGTON POST Top Ten Book of the Year
PEOPLE ’s #1 Best Book of the Year
Named a Best Book of the Year by NPR, Time, Slate, Smithsonian, Forbes, Audiophile, Parade, Kirkus, Library Journal, Publisher’s Weekly, the Evening Standard (UK), the Sunday Times (UK), The New York Post, and Amazon
Finalist, PEN/John Kenneth Galbraith Award for Nonfiction
Featured in PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA’s list of favorite books of the year
Lindsay's life's journey inspired her evolution from victim and survivor to advocate and thriver. She enjoys sharing her story of the courage to heal and fortitude in adversity. The hope for greater compassion for those affected and their families is her north star. Lindsay is a board member of The Henry Amador Center on Anosognosia and Well Power (formally the Mental Health Center of Denver).
Beyond discussing the scientific impact of her family's contributions, Lindsay opens up about her personal experiences, including the challenges of living with so many siblings diagnosed with schizophrenia, the role of trauma in mental health, and her decision to take on the responsibility of caring for her brothers later in life.
Listeners will gain insights into the following topics:
The Galvin family's pivotal role in schizophrenia research and the discovery of a SHANK2 gene mutation linked to the disorder.
The varied symptoms among her brothers and what this diversity reveals about the condition.
The impact of trauma on the onset of schizophrenia symptoms, and how this played out in her family.
The challenges and responsibilities of managing care for siblings with schizophrenia, including the effects of medications, electroshock therapy, and the issue of anosognosia (lack of insight into one's illness).
The ongoing stigma and the need for societal change to better support those with mental health disorders.
The process of genetic testing for the SHANK2 familial mutation and the decisions made regarding her own children.
Lindsay’s reflections on personal resilience, mental health, and her hopes for the future of schizophrenia research.
During the interview we mentioned a couple content/resources to check out including…
“The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” by Rebecca Skloot (Check out Episode #34 of DNA Today where descendents of Henrietta Lacks were interviewed)
“The Collected Schizophrenias: Essays” by Esmé Weijun Wang
Spotlight Documentary Directed by Tom McCarthy
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
Patrick J. Kennedy’s Books, “Profiles in Mental Health Courage” and “A Common Struggle”
LEAP Institute
Also during the episode Kira and Lindsay Mary weren’t confident about the name of the therapy that Peter was receiving. They should have been, as they got it right, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).
Lindsay has been launched onto the international stage due to her family's story. She has spoken for the Psych Congress, The NEI Conference, and many other prestigious programs. Speaker Inquiries are accepted at lindsaymarygalvinracuh.com. and donations to assist with her brother's care can be made at GalvinFamilyTrust.org.
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My mother had schizophrenia and I’m the youngest of three siblings. This is the first time I’ve heard someone so succinctly describe the experience, “ what is real and what’s not? “
I grew up terrified that my mother would kill me bc she focused on me when she was psychotic and once came at me with her hands to strangle me. She would wake me up in the middle of the night screaming that there were spiders in my brothers bed and burglars at my bedroom window. My father would come get her and I’d be left alone- not being able to sleep and the only explanation was that “ your mother is sick”.
We were left alone with her a lot because my father had to work and there was no help for family members then-
I developed anxiety and depression and after she tried to kill herself I coped with alcohol.
The good news is that I’ve been in AA for 35 years and in recovery I was able to heal and live a happy life.
I still have survivors guilt for having a happy life when my mothers was horrific. So I press forward towards the goal of self actualizing and helping the mentally ill and there families however I can.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart 💜
I just watched this HBO documentary. This is terrible and very saddening. ALL of the children growing up in this family had to have terrible experiences and traumatic memories. I think it is admirable of this sister keeps a check of her sick brothers. If the other children choose not to, I think that is their choice.not this sister.
*Thank you* Mary for this brilliant interview. I now plan to read the book about her family’s huge contribution to schizophrenic research. Well done both of you for creating such an educational video, *BRAVO 👏 👏*
I believe Mary is referencing *Henrietta Lacks* and her “immortal” cells (HeLa Cells) used in every aspect of research since the 50’s or so. Henrietta never gave consent (nor was she ever asked). She died either before or shortly after her cells were “discovered” and were then used for decades without her family knowing about her *massive* contributions to many medical breakthroughs. Her HeLa Cells have collectively saved many, many millions of lives through the research her cells enabled. *Thank you* to every family who enables these kinds of research projects to further treatments (and cures) for so many different illnesses.
My mother was type 1 bi-polar with 5 children born close in age. My younger sister was diagnosed with schizophrenia at the age of 19. I was diagnosed at an older age of type 2 bi-polar. Our family life was chaotic and horrific. We're now all in our 60's, our mother has passed and my older normal sister and I supervise the schizophrenic sister. On the spectrum my ill sister is mostly able to exist as a disabled person.
Seeing my mother put in a straight jacket multiple times growing up, when my illness developed I made certain I went to a psychiatrist and kept strictly compliant with my medication because I was terrified I would become like my mother, delusional, hallucinating, hearing voices. I was married, had a son to raise, a job to keep. To this day I regularly see my psychiatrist and keep on my meds. I was lucky enough to recognize that I had a mental condition.
The lack of available government treatment for those like my sister who do not recognize her illness is disastrous. I don't know what will happen to her when Im no longer on this earth to oversee her.
Two of my brothers had schizophrenia. They were diagnosed after returning from the Vietnam war. We were catholic as well and mom sent some of us to catholic school. We weren’t fanatics although my mom’s family were a bit extreme compared to us. They always had good humor which made it tolerable. My brothers were both treated by the veterans hospital. They were in and out of the hospital all of their adult lives and died in their forties for one and the other in his fifties. It seemed to basically ruin my family even though we tried our best not to let it. It was just too much and went on too long
Such enormous unrelenting grief, sadness, loss, chaos, confusion and heartbreak this family have endured. The mother must have been heroic and extremely resilient. My heartfelt love goes to all this family. Lindsay Mary Rauch is an angel. Dirty priest molesting the boys and using his friendship with the mother to access her kids. OMG.
Thank you! This was so informative. Please post the link for the Compassion Bill on the NIH website. I can do this myself, and I can encourage friends to do it!