Scottish schizophrenia study launched at Uni of Edinburgh

Support in Mind Scotland, in partnership with the University of Edinburgh has this week launched the report of the Scottish Schizophrenia Survey, 1 IN 100, to raise awareness of this much misunderstood condition. 

This survey captures the experiences of people living in Scotland with a diagnosis of schizophrenia and their families and carers and the results show that stigma is still the major issue that people face on a day to day basis.

The report showed that 77% of participants with lived experience of the illness experienced stigma, and 66% of their families reported similar discrimination.  The main issue for many was the perceived dangerousness of the condition, with media portrayals of someone with schizophrenia causing major concern.

Frances Simpson, Chief Executive of Support in Mind Scotland said “This is mental health awareness week, and schizophrenia remains the most misunderstood mental illness.  Stigma creates barriers to employment, impacts on people accessing services and vastly increases social isolation.  However, it also prevents people from seeking help early – and evidence has shown time and again that early intervention with the right support at the right time can enable people to have the same quality of life as anyone else.”

Stigma is not the only issue emerging from the report, with poorer physical health a second major outcome.  92% of participants spoke of the negative impact the illness has on physical wellbeing, with the side effects of anti-psychotic medication being a significant factor for most people.  It is widely understood that people with serious mental illness die up to 20 years younger than the general population, due largely to undiagnosed or untreated physical health conditions, and tackling this major health inequality is now a priority for the Scottish Government.

This report for Scotland echoes the main findings of the much larger English study in 2012, “The Abandoned Illness”, and highlights the need for policy makers in Scotland to pay attention to these results and work with individuals and their families to bring about change.

Carolyn Little, Chair of Support in Mind Scotland said, “Public perception takes a long time to change and until those with schizophrenia are afforded the same access to equal healthcare, and the media is persuaded to change their ways, we have a long way to go”