Shaking the stigma off schizophrenia
Benedict Cumberbatch and Eastenders put the spotlight on the mental illness as National Schizophrenia Awareness Day 2021 approaches
If you are a fan of EastEnders, you might have been gripped by the recent storyline of Isaac Baptiste’s struggles with his mental health. Recent episodes show him tasered by police after his schizophrenia gets out of control, and campaigners are hoping this prime-time TV exposure will help encourage a better understanding of the condition ahead of National Schizophrenia Awareness Day 2021 on July 25th.
What is schizophrenia? In short, it is a mental illness that impacts the way you think. It affects one in 100 people and can often develop in early adulthood. There are different types of this disorder, but common symptoms include suffering from hallucinations or delusions, disorganised thinking or depression-like signals such as lack of motivation or poor sleep patterns. People often associate it with suffers’ descriptions of hearing voices in their head.
It is a mental disorder that can often be hard to diagnose. One person who knows all too well how difficult it can be is Judith Millinchip. The campaigner, who wrote a book titled Hidden Illness about her journey to have her daughter correctly diagnosed, will mark this year’s Schizophrenia Awareness Day by giving a talk in Barnt Green, just outside of Birmingham.
Events will be happening around the country to mark the day, and should you wish to get involved you will find guidance on how to do so at mental health charities such Rethink, Mind, YoungMinds or Living With Schizophrenia. These organisations can also offer help for anyone suffering from the condition, and their loved ones.
Fundraising events can help these charities continue to do great work, but Schizophrenia Awareness Day – which lands on July 25th to mark the founding day of the National Schizophrenia Fellowship in 1972 – is, as the name suggests, about starting challenging conversations.
This is why related events and mainstream mentions, such as the Eastenders plot line, are so important, as many feel the illness is still stigmatised. António Ferreira, a real-life sufferer who developed the mental health condition as a teen, consulted on the storyline for the soap opera to ensure an accurate depiction. He recalls when he was shunned at school, being called “crazy” when his thoughts began to spiral out of control.
Ferreira, who has written about his experiences for the Metro, wants to address some of the misconceptions, particularly the assumption that people with schizophrenia are always violent. He says this can only happen if people are willing to talk about it openly. Another advocate for increased compassion and a greater understanding of mental health is the Benedict Cumberbatch. In a new film titled The Electrical Life of Louis Wain, the actor plays the illustrator, who was known for his human-like depiction of cats. Wain was certified insane in the 1920s due to his schizophrenia and ended his life in an asylum. Cumberbatch has asked for more kindness to be shown towards those who are “different”, and such acceptance is a positive message to keep with you on National Schizophrenia Awareness Day 2021.
