Open Your Mind to Sensitivity
Introducing Sensitivity and Mental Health with the Sensitivity Threshold Model
Welcome to a new way of thinking about mental health. This site introduces the Sensitivity Threshold Model (STM), a systems-based theory that reimagines mental illness — including schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, and even autoimmune disorders — as outcomes of overloaded biological systems in highly sensitive individuals. Instead of viewing symptoms as isolated chemical imbalances or permanent defects, STM reframes them as stress-based threshold collapses triggered by a mix of genetics, environmental toxins, emotional trauma, and internal sensitivity. Whether you're a patient seeking answers, a family member looking to understand, a mental health professional, or a researcher exploring new paradigms — this site offers role-specific guidance to help you see mental health through a clearer, more compassionate lens. Sensitivity isn’t weakness — it’s a signal.
Patients
Individuals with Mental Illness or Autoimmune Disorders
Learn more about the Sensitivity Threshold Model (STM), how it applies to your experiences, and what practical steps you can take to better understand and manage your condition.
Question: What is schizophrenia?
Question: What causes Schizophrenia?
Question: What can I do to improve my chances for recovery?
Therapist
Mental Health Therapists and Counselor
Explore how STM can inform your understanding of schizophrenia, psychosis, and sensitivity. Discover strategies to help clients recognize and manage their thresholds and build resilience.
Question: What causes schizophrenia, and how does this inform my therapeutic approach?
Question: If a patient doesn’t want long-term medication, how can I support their effort to reduce it safely?
Researcher
Researchers and Scholars in Mental Health, Immunology, or Neuroscience
Analyze the STM as a unifying theory for schizophrenia and related illnesses. Compare it with existing models, identify empirical gaps, and explore opportunities for study and validation.
Question: What causes schizophrenia, and what are the STM model’s core propositions?
Question: How does STM compare to existing theories of schizophrenia in terms of completeness and supporting evidence?
Family & Allies
Family Members or Caregivers of Someone with Mental Health or Autoimmune Illness
Gain insight into how the STM explains your loved one’s experiences, how you can offer meaningful support, and how to create an environment that reduces stress and overload.
Question: What causes schizophrenia, and what does it mean for my family?
Question: Why is sensitivity important in supporting my loved one?
Psychiatrist
Psychiatrists and Medical Professionals
Examine the STM as an integrated systems-based theory. Consider its implications for treatment planning, medication strategies, and understanding patient sensitivity and overload.
Question: What causes schizophrenia, and what biological mechanisms are involved according to STM?
Question: Why do some psychiatrists underappreciate sensitivity, and how can we incorporate it into care plans?
Theory Skeptic
Critical Thinkers and Theory Skeptics
Challenge the STM’s logic, assumptions, and evidence base. Ask hard questions, test its coherence, and explore where the model aligns with — or departs from — established science.
Question: What is schizophrenia, and why is the STM explanation different?
Question: What is the true mechanistic depth of the STM model — does it go beyond metaphor?
Meet Kareem Forbes
I’m Kareem Forbes — a systems thinker, technology professional, and passionate mental health advocate. Drawing on my background in computer science, engineering, and lived experience, I developed the Sensitivity Threshold Model (STM) to help make sense of complex illnesses like schizophrenia, stress-related disorders, and autoimmune conditions. My goal is to offer clear, compassionate explanations that empower individuals, families, and professionals to understand the links between stress, sensitivity, and health. I believe that with the right knowledge and support, recovery and resilience are possible.
“Our life is shaped by our mind, for we become what we think.”
Buddha