Schizophrenia: Breaking the mental health stigma | BBC Ideas

Esme Weijun Wang has schizoaffective disorder and says to break the taboo around schizophrenia, more people need to tell their stories.

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#bbcideas #mentalhealth #schizophrenia

[haroldmaio]

We teach people to say there is a stigma to mental illnesses and then wonder at the prejudice and discrirmination that ensues.

[RosieIsNosie]

I absolutely love your work, I was diagnosed with schizophrenia just over a year ago and finding your advocacy has helped me so so much. Thank you!!

[honestlyyours]

The saddest case of schizophrenia that I ever heard about concerned singer David Bowie's half-brother Terry Burns. He had a significant musical impact on Bowie in his early years. Yet, sadly, he suffered from schizophrenia in his later years. I read that Bowie pretty well cut of all contact with Terry in 1982. Bowie's half-brother finally committed suicide in 1985, after a lifetime of suffering and commitment to mental institutions. Terry was very proud of his brother, yet David rarely visited in hospital after he became a superstar.

[McHenryCruiser]

I'm a Schizophrenic and talk about it often on my channel.

[honestlyyours]

There is a tremendous amount of stigma and discrimination against people with schizophrenia. In other words, . they are looked upon as a disease, not a person who deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. The public attitude towards this condition often leads to feelings of rejection and failure in the affected individual. There needs to be way more public education on the true nature of this disease to help clear up the myths and misconceptions surrounding it.

[KONODIODA]

My doctor diagnosed me with Schizophrenia on my first appointment with them

[wendyramos]

I have Schizoaffective bipolar disorder. I want others like me to see what we have to live with.

[bbcideas]

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[alishathehistorynerd]

My daughter was originally diagnosed with autism at 2 1/2. At 8 years old, she was the switched to schizophrenia, anxiety, ODD, depression, and an unspecified mood disorder. She just turned 13 and her psych would like to switch her to schizoaffective bipolar type. We don’t know anyone with the illness, so it’s hard to speak openly about it. I’m wondering, if your okay with it, that she could ask you a few general questions? She and I are very close, but I think writing to someone who walks in the same path, could really be helpful. Are you okay with that. She’s a sweetie pie!

[simplylangel]

Have been diagnosed with Schizophrenia since 2015. 3 persons living in 1. I lost my friends, withdrawn from society and even my relatives.

[psadelachute]

That video is a great ❤️ idea, thank you BBC 👍🏽

[Adamb]

I’m schizophrenic I with you all comrades

[myguitardidyermom]

She looks 19 and 90 at the same time. Waiting for my copy of collected schizophrenias, I'm pretty excited

[esmeraldasilver]

Hi I would like to know how have you coped with your disorder and if you are compliant with your medication.

[brocksprogramming]

Call me willfully oblivious, but I've only experienced stigma a couple times over ~12 years.

[BubbaHotepMothership]

Biomarkers? In The Collected SCZ’s, Ismè possibly has Lyme disease. If so is it of any significance?

[TheBlackCat]

I'm gonna walk into a Burger King, declare my schizophrenia, then proceed to walk in the kitchen and make a burger for myself and president Lincoln.