When the person is hearing voices (auditory hallucinations):
When a person is preoccupied because they are listening to someone they believe is talking to them, they will find it difficult to give attention to what you are saying.
Here are some useful suggestions:

• When you speak, be brief and clear.
• Keep what you say simple.
• Only talk about one topic at a time.
• Keep eye contact.

Other Hallucinations:
Hallucinations can also be about what the person sees, tastes feels or smells. There is no need to get involved in someone's hallucinations if they do not find it upsetting. If you think the hallucination is causing the person suffering, there are some things you can do:

• Ask if the person saw, heard or experienced something, and if they did, ask what it is: "Did you hear (see, feel, etc) something?
• Get just enough information to find out how the person is feeling: "Are you OK?". "Do you feel alright?"
• Ask what will make the person feel more safe, or in control: " Do you want to go inside (upstairs, close the door or window, etc)"
• If the person asks you, you can say you know the experience is real for them, but it is not happening for you.

How to respond to delusional thinking:
Delusions are strange beliefs that are held by the observer and that remain despite obvious evidence to the contrary (eg believing that one's thoughts are being broadcast over the radio or television, or that other people are controlling their thoughts.

• Recognize that the delusional thinking may continue, despite anti-psychotic medication.
• Do not make fun of or tease the person about their delusions.
• Do not get into arguments about his or her mistaken beliefs.
• Receive delusional talk in a neutral way, neither encouraging nor condemning it.
• Do not question or discuss the details of delusional statements.
• Do not tell a person that what they are saying is crazy, delusional or untrue; rather acknowledge that they are experiencing a different reality to yours.

How to respond to inappropriate behaviour:

• Any attention given to inappropriate behaviour can be rewarding so that the behaviour is more likely to be repeated. Ignoring problem behaviour if possible may decrease the chances of it being repeated. It can be helpful to remove yourself from the situation (e.g. going to another room) to avoid giving attention to unreasonable behaviour.
• Be aware that you have a right to set limits and boundaries on behaviour which is unacceptable to you.
• During a period of calm, discuss with the person what behaviour is not acceptable and try to come to an agreement. In order to improve understanding, discuss what you are doing that may be upsetting the person as well.
• You may want to consider whether it is appropriate to make a contract about loss of privileges for both of you if limits and boundaries are not respected and observed.
• Encourage the person to express their feelings in a respectful manner.

Managing abusive behaviour:
People often become abusive because of frustrating circumstances they see as being beyond their control. Frustration and anger may be directed at other people who have nothing to do with what the person is frustrated about. In most cases the person does not mean anything personal by their abusive remarks.
Some people with mental illness develop a pattern of abusive behaviour in response to a belief that others will reject them. They may see attack as the best form of defence.
In and attempt to reject others before they can be rejected, they become quite hostile to others.

• To break this cycle, do not respond in a hostile, disciplinary or rejecting manner.
• Tell the person you understand that they are feeling angry, but that you are not prepared to accept their abusive behaviour.
• Wait until things have settled down before you talk about the feelings that resulted in the angry outburst.
• Encourage the person to discuss their angry feelings so that the particular stressors for that person can be identified. This may help the person stop angry feelings building up.