Out of Sight But Not Out of Mind

Posted on January 25, 2018

Schizophrenia /ˌskɪtsə(ʊ)ˈfriːnɪə/ NOUN: a mental disorder that is characterized by disturbances in thought (such as delusions), perception (such as hallucinations), and behavior (such as disorganized speech or catatonic behavior), by a loss of emotional responsiveness and extreme apathy, and by noticeable deterioration in the level of functioning in everyday life. (Taken from merriam-webster.com)

Many people have heard of schizophrenia, but in their minds, they think of it merely as a person going insane. It is, however, hard to blame the ignorant layman that view it as such; a divergent perspective of one's reality is hard to picture. Coupled with the fact that people with schizophrenia, due to their different view of reality, tend to act in a strange manner and have poor communication skills, they tend to be isolated by most people around them.

It doesn't help that stereotypes and labels have overwritten the schizophrenic's unique personality with false information and a lot of unneeded fear, nor that whenever the media mentions schizophrenia it is often tied to a violent incident, even though research has shown that people with schizophrenia are less likely to commit acts of violence compared to those without.

It thus follows logically that schizophrenics have a lower life expectancy since they are more likely to commit suicide compared to those without schizophrenia. They are well aware of it, but with the way society views them, it is no wonder they find it difficult to be free of these bonds that hold them down.

In order to help this community of people, we must first get rid of the existing social stigma and not view them through a filter of misguided knowledge. Only then, can we truly empathize with their problems and genuinely lend a helping hand on their road to recovery.


Category(s):Schizophrenia

Source material from PscyhCentral