Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is classified as a chronic mental disorder, and often causes severe social, mental and physical disabilities in those diagnosed with it. The disease causes disoriented thinking and behavior, hallucinations and twists the individual’s perception of both themselves and reality. Those with schizophrenia are between two and three times more likely to die early of a preventable illness: cardiovascular disease, infections or metabolic disease than those without schizophrenia. Fifty percent of those with schizophrenia are not receiving proper medical and psychological care, and 90 percent of those not receiving care live in low or middle income nations.¹ More males have schizophrenia than females — 12 million males compared to 9 million females.² There is currently no known cause or cure for schizophrenia, though it is treatable, as there are medication and therapies that can alleviate symptoms.³