How to watch the Galvin Family’s ‘Six Schizophrenic Brothers’ documentary

As someone who has always been fascinated by the human psyche and its complexities, I found Six Schizophrenic Brothers to be a riveting documentary that sheds light on a family’s heart-wrenching struggle with mental illness. The Galvins’ story is not just about six brothers diagnosed with schizophrenia; it’s about the crumbling of a large family, the quest for answers, and the stigma attached to mental health.


In 2024, among the unexpected hits, a documentary series titled “Six Schizophrenic Brothers” stood out. As a gamer, I found myself deeply immersed in this gripping portrayal of one of America’s most challenged families, offering a raw and emotional glimpse into their lives.

Though the Galvin name may not ring a bell for many, this particular American family has an astonishing tale hidden in their genetic lineage and contributions to mental illness research that seems nearly unreal.

The tragic account revolves around the breakdown of a considerable family, with several members sharing the same medical condition. Regrettably, incidents such as murder, self-inflicted deaths, and accusations of mistreatment mark the Galvins’ history. This year, a Discovery documentary delved into every aspect of their heartrending story.

Here’s a guide on how to catch the miniseries, including insights into its plot and reasons for the controversy sparked by the family themselves.

How to watch the Six Schizophrenic Brothers documentary

You can now stream all four episodes of the Six Schizophrenic Brothers documentary on both Discovery+ and Max.

The series dropped earlier in June 2024, meaning all episodes can be binged right now.

If you don’t have a subscription to either streaming platform, you can still purchase the series through Apple TV+ or Amazon Prime Video.

How to watch the Galvin Family’s ‘Six Schizophrenic Brothers’ documentary

Is the Galvin Family documentary on Netflix?

Unfortunately, “Six Schizophrenic Brothers” is not currently streaming on Netflix, but keep checking back as we’ll let you know if that changes!

What’s it about?

The film “Six Schizophrenic Brothers” provides insights into the Galvin family, a U.S. household where six of their 12 offspring have been diagnosed with schizophrenia.

The official logline characterizes them as America’s most mentally ill family, but in 2020, a book named “Hidden Valley Road: Inside an American Family’s Journey with Schizophrenia” was released, focusing on the Galvins and their role in studies exploring the genetic basis of schizophrenia.

Mainly, it was discovered that out of the six diagnosed individuals, they were all sons. The narrative also delves into investigations regarding mental health issues, as well as the family’s efforts in seeking explanations for their afflictions.

In the mid-1900s, the Galvins significantly contributed to the field of schizophrenia research, as their genetic makeup served as a fundamental structure for significant studies on this disease.

The documentary includes interviews from members of the family, but also turns the spotlight onto some of the darker elements of their story, including murder, psychosis, and suicide.

Backlash explained

Some of the subjects highlighted in the documentary – including the suggestion that the two daughters Lindsay and Margaret were both sexually abused – has led to a defensive response from Lindsay Mary Galvin Rauch, the youngest Galvin sister.

In an interview with The Gazette back in July 2024, Rauch disputed the accuracy of the documentary, stating that it distorted portrayals of her upbringing and the actual events.

She clarified, “It has made a difficult situation even more challenging for every family, and instead of addressing the issue, it’s exacerbated it. This is disheartening as we strive for understanding and support within the mental health community, but this action sets us back.

How to watch the Galvin Family’s ‘Six Schizophrenic Brothers’ documentary

Rauch claims that she was content with the initial edit she saw, but later discovered a different version for Max was used instead, which inappropriately emphasized themes such as violence, mistreatment, and implied incest.

She went on to say, “I’m ashamed of the show,” she added. “For those families with kids or siblings dealing with this condition, I empathize with their anger. It’s important to remember that having schizophrenia doesn’t equate to being violent.

A significantly smaller proportion of individuals dealing with [the specified condition] are violent, contrary to popular portrayal in media. Often, productions such as ‘Joker’ or ‘Shutter Island’ sensationalize our series by presenting them as horror stories related to mental health issues.

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2024-10-14 16:23