by: Tik Yee Lau 

            Schizophrenia affects not only the patients themselves. This illness can also affect their family members, friends, and society. Schizophrenia patients often have symptoms that seem mysterious and foreign to people who are not familiar with this illness.

            Several symptoms of schizophrenia are hallucinations, delusions, thought disorders and movement disorders (National Institute of Mental Health).

Because of these symptoms, people misunderstand schizophrenia patients and think that they are violent and dangerous to other people. Schizophrenia patients are not usually violent. Only some of the symptoms are associated with violence e.g. delusion of being persecuted. The risk of getting harmed by a schizophrenia patient as a stranger is small. On the other hand, schizophrenia patients are actually more likely to commit suicides and hurt themselves (National Institute of Mental Health).

            Many schizophrenia patients have to fight with their symptoms throughout their lives. Because of their symptoms and people’s misconceptions about them, some schizophrenia patients can’t have careers and sustain themselves (National Institute of Mental Health). In the meantime, the support and help from family members and friends are important for the well being of schizophrenia patients. Nevertheless, there are still schizophrenia patients who have successful lives and contribute to our society. (On a side note, here is an interesting video of a Schizophrenia patient who leads a successful life: http://www.ted.com/talks/elyn_saks_seeing_mental_illness?language=en)

Reference:

“What Is Schizophrenia?” National Institute of Mental Health. Web. 18 September 2014.