Schizophrenia affects one in 100 people in their lifetime, but lack of understanding around the illness and "shocking" waiting times on basic therapies mean those living with the condition are suffering unnecessarily.
A new survey of more than 1,000 people with schizophrenia and their carers has revealed the impact on recovery and wellbeing caused by not having adequate and timely access to treatment.
Nearly 9 in 10 people (89%) said that not getting the right support has had a negative impact on their overall quality of life, according to the research, which was conducted by Rethink Mental Illness.
Meanwhile, less than one third (28%) received the recommended minimum of 16 hours of talking therapies, and a quarter (24%) had to wait over a year to get any at all.
In a powerful video created by the charity to mark Schizophrenia Awareness Week, a handful of individuals living with the condition have spoken out about their experiences.
While each struggled with their schizophrenia in the past, with the right care and treatment they have carved out successful and happier lives.
Andrew, who features in the video, has had paranoid schizophrenia since his twenties. He spent "years in asylums" and said he felt "fearful and afraid" about his future.
Getting the right help set him on the road to recovery and he was able to enrol at the Open University and get a degree, he now works as mental health campaigner.
Andrew says there is a lot of stigma attached to schizophrenia and a lot of that is down to insensitive media reporting.
"Newspaper headlines do not represent me, I am not violent or scary or a nutter."
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Andrew
Mark Winstanley, CEO at Rethink Mental Illness said: "It’s not a rare illness at all and what’s often misunderstood is that people with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder and psychosis can lead a normal life if they get the right support. But as our survey shows, far too many people are not getting that, and that’s having a very real and devastating impact on the day-to-day things most of us take for granted.
"Work, studying, relationships, a social life, keeping fit and healthy – everyone has a right to live the lives they want to lead, so why are so many with schizophrenia telling us they feel rejected from society, isolated, and having to fight battle after battle to get the right support? "
Winstanley says that mental health services are "underfunded" and "overstretched".
“This is resulting in people spiralling deep into a world where they feel they can’t lead anything close to a normal life.
By 2020, the charity want England to have a mental health care system that is fairly funded according to local and national need, delivering high quality mental health care, at the time and place that people need it.”
Rethink Mental Illness is continuing its fight for fair funding for mental health services, calling on Clinical Commissioning Groups to increase spending on mental health services in line with NHS guidelines.
Common Mental Health Myths
You Are Not Sick (01 of11)
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MYTH: Bipolar disorder just means mood swingsFACT: Bipolar disorder is an illness with severe mood swings. Often, bipolar can interfere with one’s daily functioning, and sometimes can even lead to suicide, according to Dr. Prakash Masand, a psychiatrist and president of Global Medical Education. (credit:Gettystock )
Am I Cured?(02 of11)
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MYTH: Once you feel better you can stop taking your medicationFACT: Almost all patients with psychiatric illness need maintenance treatment for a while, even if they start "feeling better." Masand says this is to prevent relapses and recurrences, similar to diabetes and heart disease patients. (credit:Gettystock Gettystock )
Your Relationship Is To Blame(03 of11)
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MYTH: Psychiatric illness is a result of bad relationshipsFACT: All psychiatric illnesses have a genetic component and an environmental component, Masand says. A bad relationship, for example, is only one of several factors. (credit:Gettystock )
You Can't Handle It (04 of11)
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MYTH: Psychiatric illnesses are due to weak character or inadequate coping skillsFACT: Psychiatric illnesses are medical illnesses with several origins like all other illnesses, Masand says. Just because you cry easily or can't cope with personal problems, it doesn't make you weak or more likely to be mentally ill. (credit:Gettystock )
It Will Go Away (05 of11)
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MYTH: Depression is just sadness that will go awayFACT: Depression is a serious medical illness with morbidity and mortality, Masand says. Not all people show obvious signs of being depressed either. While some seek medication or go to therapy to cope, Masand says others try exercise, yoga or meditation. On the flip side, if someone is often sad or emotional, it doesn't necessarily mean they are depressed. (credit:Gettystock )
You Won't Have A 'Normal' Life (06 of11)
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MYTH: Once you have depression or bipolar disorder, you will never achieve your full potential or live a 'normal' life FACT: Some of the most successful people in various fields have had depression or bipolar disorder, including Isaac Newton, Beethoven, Brad Pitt and Oprah Winfrey, Masand says. People who go through a mental illness may also feel they can't ever get back to a "normal life." This is another myth. Someone with a mental illness can still function, go to work, raise a family or perform any other task. (credit:Gettystock )
Suicide Isn't Really A Big Problem(07 of11)
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MYTH: Suicide is not a big problem in our societyFACT: You may not know someone who has committed suicide, but this doesn't mean it doesn't happen. In 2009, for example, suicide accounted for 3,890 deaths in Canada among both genders, and according to Statistics Canada, mental illness is the most important risk factor. In the U.S., Masand says suicide was the 10th leading cause of death in 2007. (credit:Gettystock )
If You Seek Help, You Are Weak (08 of11)
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MYTH: Treatment for psychiatric illness is a cop-out for weak peopleFACT: Treatment is necessary for psychiatric illnesses like it is for other medical illnesses, such as diabetes and heart disease, Masand says. This myth is also commonly believed because finding help or telling people close to you about your illnesses can also lead to shaming and embarrassment. (credit:Gettystock )
They Are Just 'Crazy'(09 of11)
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MYTH: All patients with schizophrenia are dangerousFACT: If you've ever seen schizophrenia or mental health portrayed in mainstream media, you might just think everyone who is mentally ill is "crazy." Only a small proportion of patients with schizophrenia can be violent and this is usually because they are untreated, Masand says. (credit:Gettystock )
Just Get Over It (10 of11)
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MYTH: Talk therapy is just whining FACT: Several types of talk therapy, such as cognitive behavioural therapy, can be just as effective as medication in treating depression and anxiety disorders. (credit:Gettystock )