Even though people are learning more and more about mental health, there are still some conditions that are often misunderstood and misinterpreted, in this case Schizophrenia. It is a mental illness that changes the way a person thinks, feels, and acts.
Fears and assumptions about how someone will act can lead to stereotypes and sometimes even wrong information. Due to stigma, people with schizophrenia have a six to seven times higher chance of being unemployed than the rest of the population. In Kenya, up to 90% of them are unemployed yet with treatment they can be productive.
However, just like with any other physical or mental health condition, people with schizophrenia have their own unique experiences. The symptoms, how often they happen, and the severity of the symptoms may be different for each person. There are many people with schizophrenia who do not have a family member with the same condition. I've met someone with schizophrenia, but no one in her family, not even a distant relative, has schizophrenia.
Some people may develop schizophrenia because of genetics and other factors, such as their environment and their life experiences. People with schizophrenia may be socially isolated, lose their jobs, and be treated unfairly because of widespread stereotypes and stigmas.
‘’When I tried telling people what I was experiencing, they started calling me "Stigmatizing names,". It made me feel scared. Furthermore, they even put me in a dark room without my consent but I couldn't say anything. It was me against my doctor, my friends, and everyone else." A person with schizophrenia shared.
Fighting the myths about schizophrenia can help people with the condition get better access to health care, jobs, and mental health services. Misconceptions can also make it harder for family, friends, and coworkers to support someone with schizophrenia. When people learn more about schizophrenia, they can differentiate reality from lies. This could be a big step toward a better understanding of schizophrenia and better care for people who have it. Most of the time, treatment includes taking medicine and talking to a counselor.
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