Every year on May 24, communities around the world recognize World Schizophrenia Awareness Day — a day dedicated to increasing understanding, reducing stigma, and uplifting the voices of people living with early psychosis, schizophrenia and related mental health conditions.
Schizophrenia often develops in early adulthood, though symptoms can emerge at different stages of life. While it is a lifelong condition, many people living with schizophrenia lead meaningful, connected, and successful lives with the right combination of treatment, support, and community.
For many people, schizophrenia is one of the most misunderstood and negatively perceived mental health conditions. Harmful stereotypes in movies, television, and public conversations have contributed to fear and misinformation for decades, unfairly portraying individuals living with schizophrenia as dangerous, unpredictable or incapable. Stigma perpetuated by the way people talk about schizophrenia creates significant barriers for recovery — often leading to isolation, fear of speaking up to get help, and discrimination in employment, housing, healthcare, and relationships.
Family members and loved ones also play an important role. Learning about schizophrenia can help caregivers better understand what their loved one is experiencing and how to provide support while also caring for their own mental health. No one should have to navigate schizophrenia alone!!
- Learn the facts about schizophrenia.
- Listen to people with lived experience without judgment.
- Speak up when you hear harmful stereotypes or misinformation.
- Share stories of hope and recovery.
- Support mental health advocacy efforts at the local, provincial/territorial and national levels.
Awareness is more than recognition — it is a commitment to building communities where every person is treated with dignity. This World Schizophrenia Awareness Day, let’s continue creating a Canada where hope, support, and recovery are possible for all.
Dr. Tom Hastings Webinar
Join Dr. Tom Hastings for an informative webinar exploring schizophrenia, treatment options, and recovery.
Build a Canada where people living with early psychosis and schizophrenia achieve their potential.
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OUR VALUES
- Schizophrenia and early psychosis are medical illnesses that, like other medical illnesses, have variable expression/effects on symptoms, function and response to treatments.
- Schizophrenia and early psychosis are caused by a number of different factors; from multiple genetic or environmental factors or from a combination of both.
- The SSC fully supports the important role of research in all areas related to schizophrenia and early psychosis (biological, psychological, spiritual, and social determinants of health)
- Persons with schizophrenia and early psychosis are entitled to efficient multi-disciplinary and integrated evidence-informed treatment and community support services.
- Persons at the early phases of their illness are entitled to real secondary prevention (early intervention and treatment) through specialized first episode early psychosis clinics and their collaborators.
- Persons with schizophrenia and early psychosis are to be included as full citizens in accessing education, employment, housing, medical services, recreation and social supports.
- Whenever possible families are essential partners in the care and the treatment and recovery plans of persons with schizophrenia and early psychosis, and deserve respect and support
- Persons with schizophrenia and early psychosis must be included in their treatment planning, care and recovery plans.
- Persons with schizophrenia and early psychosis and their families are not to be blamed for this illness.
- The SSC values collaboration at all levels to ensure that caring, compassion, hope, and recovery remain at the heart of our movement.