National Schizophrenia Awareness Day

By Dr. Madhusudan Singh Solanki in Mental Health And Behavioural Sciences

Sep 13 , 2022 | 1 min read

Schizophrenia is a complex, chronic and severe illness that can influence a person’s thoughts, emotions, actions, and perceptions. There is a disconnect between a person’s reality and perception of said reality.

Some Symptoms of Schizophrenia Include

Hallucinations - Perceptions without stimuli; auditory hallucinations are the most common type. Other types of hallucinations include olfactory (smell), gustatory (taste) and tactile (sensation-related) hallucinations.
Disorganised speech and thinking
Delusions - Fixed, firm and false beliefs
Disorganised motor functions
Negative symptoms - Refers to an absence of normal behaviours.
Catatonia - A group of symptoms characterised by a lack of movement and communication
Psychosis - Disconnection from reality

People with Schizophrenia Diagnoses

Are not violent or dangerous
Do not have split personality disorder
Are not a result of bad parenting
Most of them do not require long-term hospitalisation
Most the patient can get better with an effective combination of medications and therapy
Most of the patients can live a better quality of life with regular treatment

On this national schizophrenia day, we celebrate and honour the resilience of people diagnosed with the condition. We must also acknowledge researchers, activists, and professionals for the psychosis-related care they provide relentlessly.

Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders are complicated disorders, and they require compassionate and proper care and awareness. There have been advances in medicine that have allowed us to manage schizophrenia much more effectively compared to a few decades ago.

Let’s spread this awareness that schizophrenia is treatable and people suffering from schizophrenia can live a better life with regular treatment.