Schizophrenia and work
Myth: Most people with schizophrenia can’t work.
Fact: People with schizophrenia can work—even if they have symptoms. Several studies have shown that people with major mental illnesses fare better if they work. The ability to hold a job is not necessarily related to the severity of the person’s illness. British and American studies have shown that people with schizophrenia are more likely to stay out of hospital if they are employed. While many people with schizophrenia are able to work successfully in competitive fulltime employment, for others part-time or volunteer work is best. Work is a vital part of rehabilitation. It increases self esteem, reconnects the ill individual to the community, and provides a meaningful way to fill time.
Today, many people diagnosed with schizophrenia are in school, at work, and are parents and spouses. The winner of the 1994 Nobel Prize for Mathematics, John Nash, has lived with schizophrenia for thirty years. By providing a supportive environment and proper medication, treatment and encouragement, we can enable people who experience schizophrenia to be productive members of our community.
However, negative portrayals of people who experience schizophrenia in television, movies and other media outlets, continue to perpetuate the stigma and further activate discrimination.
As one woman said, "When you go into the hospital for a broken leg, people send flowers or they visit you. If you go to the hospital for a mental illness, people don’t send flowers. They don’t visit."
The Have I Got A Problem website is a free online resource to help people better understand any issues or concerns they may have about mental health or addiction. The website includes resources specifically focused to; general Mental Health, Depression, Stress, Anxiety, Insecurities, Self-harm Schizophrenia, Bipolar, Anger Management, Eating Disorders, Coping, general Addiction, Alcohol, Smoking, Gambling, Drugs, Cocaine, Heroin, Marijuana (Cannabis) Ecstasy, PCP, Mephedrone, Ketamine & Crystal Meth.
The site was created to give the public information to help them understand mental health and addiction issues and to assist people in making better informed decisions about their life and personal choices.
www.haveigotaproblem.com was created and is run by 'Advising Communities’, which is a UK registered charity (Charity No. 1061055)
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Quotes
"I had just received my college degree in English when I was diagnosed with schizophrenia eighteen years ago. For a long time, I couldn’t concentrate enough to read. But with my new medication, I can read again. I play the viola and love the Bach cello sui"
Elizabeth
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