Schizophrenia Awareness Week: May 22-28, 2005; Schizophrenia: It's Not What You Think!

Main Category: Schizophrenia
Article Date: 23 May 2005 - 0:00 PDT

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Schizophrenia is NOT hopeless. It's NOT the result of bad parenting or a weak personality. Schizophrenia is NOT the same as split personality disorder. In an effort to set the record straight and reduce these kinds of misconceptions in the general public, the National Schizophrenia Foundation has declared May 22-28 to be Schizophrenia Awareness Week. This year's theme is appropriately "Schizophrenia: It's Not What You Think!"

Affecting more than 2.5 million Americans, schizophrenia is a biologically based brain disease that seriously impairs a person's ability to think clearly and relate to others. Someone with schizophrenia has difficulty distinguishing between what is real and what is imaginary, and is often unresponsive and withdrawn. Although there is no known cause or cure, a majority of people with schizophrenia can lead a more "normal" life with the appropriate medication, therapy and support.

"Schizophrenia is often far from what people think it is," says Eric Hufnagel, President & CEO, National Schizophrenia Foundation. "Unfortunately, the individuals with schizophrenia are the ones who suffer -- not only from this devastating disease, but just as much from the stigma that results from public misconception."

This event honors the work of Dr. Philippe Pinel, a major figure in the early efforts to provide humane care and treatment for the mentally ill. Appointed chief physician at the men's "insane" asylum in Paris in the late 18th Century, Dr. Pinel was horrified to see the patients restrained to walls by chains. Although warned against it, Dr. Pinel took a bold and unprecedented move to remove the chains from the patients.

The NSF is a not-for-profit organization that educates the public about schizophrenia, and administers the Schizophrenics Anonymous (SA) self-help network. SA is a network of over 150 self-help groups run for/by persons with schizophrenia and related disorders. The first SA support group was founded in Detroit in 1985 by Joanne Verbanic, who created a six-step program modeled after the 12-step program of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Persons interested in learning more about schizophrenia or SA may contact the National Schizophrenia Foundation at (800) 482-9534 or go to http://www.NSFoundation.org.

National Schizophrenia Foundation
http://www.NSFoundation.org

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