We have really enjoyed our time
in the Northeast. We are as far north and we are going, and starting the trek
south along the East Coast. This week I
am focusing on raising awareness on Schizophrenia. Dr. Arun Nagendra, who works with
Schizophrenia & Psychosis Action Alliance, the non-profit we are supporting for our mission, shared some
thoughts. Thank you, Dr. Nagendra!
Those with schizophrenia are about ten
to twelve times more likely to commit suicide than the general public. A
key contributor to this tragedy is those with the illness rarely receive the
treatment they need. In a given year, less than half of those with
schizophrenia receive any care, let alone the quality of care
that we know leads to the best outcomes. The gold standard of treatment
involves an integrated treatment team – consisting of a psychiatrist trained in
high-quality medication management, individual therapy that promotes autonomy
and resilience, caregiver therapy and support, employment and education
services, and cognitive training. I want to highlight two factors
that contribute to why people with schizophrenia cannot reach the high-quality
care they deserve.
First, schizophrenia is an illness
shrouded in stigma and misunderstanding. Contrary to what many people
believe, it is a treatable, no-fault brain illness. The hallmark of
schizophrenia is psychosis, which comprises two symptoms: hallucinations and
delusions. Hallucinations are sensory experiences in the absence of sensory
input. They are most frequently auditory, meaning people hear voices
whispering, talking, or even yelling. Hallucinations can also be visual, like
seeing shapes and people who are not there. But hallucinations can occur in any
modality - smelling rotten food, tasting blood, or feeling like your body is
covered in snakes. Delusions refer to strongly held beliefs in the face of
contradictory evidence. They are most often persecutory, such as thoughts that other people or entities plan to
harm you. While hallucinations and delusions are relatively rare, the
underlying themes of these experiences are universal. We can
all relate to feeling unsafe, unloved, and lonely, and that is one way to start
to connect with and understand those with schizophrenia. Instead, those
with schizophrenia are treated with discrimination and fear. This can deter
them from seeking life-affirming care.
Second, our healthcare system is not
equipped to treat those with the illness. Finding a treatment team is near impossible,
especially one with the specialized skills necessary to support those with
schizophrenia. Rather than getting
integrated psychiatric care, people with schizophrenia comprise 1/3 of the
homeless population in the US and 20% of the prison population. Many of
those with schizophrenia are desperately lonely, and one study reported
that loneliness is the second most important challenge in their lives –
second only to financial concerns. Over 75% of those with schizophrenia
stop taking medications, the first line of treatment, within two years - often
because of horrible side effects like massive weight gain, heart disease, and
diabetes. Although less than 10% of those with schizophrenia have
paid employment, most of them report that they want to work.
We can do better. Most people with
schizophrenia want to connect and contribute to their communities, find
meaningful employment or return to school, fall in love, and have healthy
bodies. The mission of our organization, the Schizophrenia & Psychosis
Action Alliance, is to create systems-level change so that those with
schizophrenia can thrive the way they deserve.
Thank you, Doctor for your eloquent
words! Scott wants to raise awareness so
please spread the word on our mission follow the blog and follow us on Facebook
( Katy Bloomquist Freitag,) and milesformoney.org. Thank you!
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