Matt McDonald 12/27/13

Schizophrenia is a very serious and often debilitating mental illness. Many of the more recognizable symptoms may be observed through irrational behavior. This can include hallucinations during which people can see, smell, or feel things that are not there, but most commonly is reported as hearing voices in their heads (National Institute of Mental Health [NIMH], 2013). Delusional thoughts are also common among those with schizophrenia, as well as trouble expressing clear statements and thoughts (NIMH, 2013). Other symptoms that may go unnoticed include lack of pleasure in normal activities, seclusion, and trouble focusing (NIMH, 2013). This is a biological disease that affects the brain. There is limited evidence that may support a genetic cause with the disease running in families, but no definite cause (Canadian Mental Health Association [CMHA], 2013). Other discoveries suggest that those with schizophrenia may have deteriorated or abnormally developed parts of the brain involved in higher mental functions (CMHA, 2013). An array of medicines has been discovered to help treat the irrational thoughts and hallucinations of those who suffer from schizophrenia, but many of these have harsh side effects that result in non-compliance with the medicine (CMHA,2013). When families work with physicians to share information, the knowledge gained can make life much less stressful for those living with schizophrenia, as well as for the family and community (CMHA, 2013). Unemployment is one social determinant of health that affects those with schizophrenia. Unemployment is when an individual does not actively work, and people with steady jobs are generally reported as having better health. This can be applied to those with schizophrenia because the incoherent thoughts associated with this disease may make it difficult to attain and

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retain a job. This can also apply to treatment for schizophrenia. There is no cure for this disease, and many may require a lifetime of medication and treatment to keep it under control. Without a job or while living in poverty, it may be difficult to afford treatment needed. Unemployed, college-aged individuals with schizophrenia may have a hard time funding their college education while trying to pay for medication. Another social determinant of health is social support. Social support includes having and maintaining friendships and strong social networks, which provide resources when one needs them, and helps to improve health. Social support is imperative for those with schizophrenia because with incoherent thoughts, the assistance of friends with rational thoughts can help make things smoother for everyone. Schizophrenia could easily hurt college students when it comes to social support. Seclusion and difficulty fitting in due to unusual behavior could influence other students to avoid schizophrenics, causing them to face poor social support. As with any mental disease, schizophrenics often face cruel stereotypes. One stigma associated with schizophrenia is the idea that everyone afflicted with this disease is violent and uncontrollable (CMHA, 2013). This is largely driven by the media, who often make stories of violence from headline news concerning the mentally ill. The media portrays the symptom of irrational thought in schizophrenics as a catalyst for guaranteed bouts of random violence. This generates a society-wide fear of schizophrenics and can lead to discrimination. Another mediadriven stigma upon schizophrenic individuals is that they are unable to form clear and rational thought. The media highlight this symptom in most of their widely-broadcasted depictions of the mentally ill. In reality, many of the medicines used to treat schizophrenia ease the prominence of hallucinations and delusions to help maintain coherent thought in those individuals (CMHA, 2013). This stereotype can make social acceptance trivial for those known as schizophrenics,

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leading to further seclusion from society. Justice is defined as the equal treatment of all people. Ultimately, there is no justice between the ways that those suffering from any mental illness are treated by those who are not. If there is any hope of achieving justice for those who suffer from mental illness, education must be made more available on mental illness as a whole, as well as understanding and tolerance of those who suffer with a mental illness.

Matt McDonald 12/27/13

Bibliography Canadian Mental Health Association (2013). Schizophrenia. Retrieved from http://ontario.cmha.ca/mental-health/mental-health-conditions/ National Institute of Mental Health (2013). Schizophrenia. Retrieved from http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/schizophrenia/index.shtml