The Role Of Schizophrenia In Canada

“The Canadian Mental Health Association estimates that 1 in 5 Canadians will develop a mental illness at some time in their lives.” Mental illness is defined as a mental pattern that causes an impaired ability to function normally in ordinary life. Mental illnesses can affect persons of any age, race, religion, or income and are not the result of personal weakness, lack of character or poor upbringing. A number of factors can contribute to whether an individual will develop a mental illness, with these factors being present individually or in multiples. A number of factors have been identified that contribute towards initiating mental illness, but no individual factor has been definitively identified as ‘the’ factor that causes a mental illness. Symptoms of mental illness can range from mild to severe and are classified into two main categories as being either organic disorders or functional disorders. Organic disorders cause a decrease in the mental function of the brain due to a medical disease; while functional disorders cause a derangement of the mind. The type and severity of the disorder determines if it will be short-term and treatable or if it will be permanent or degenerative and untreatable. There are a variety of community and medical services available to assist those who are affected by mental illness. These services are available on an in-patient or out-patient basis depending on the level of severity, with the general trend towards

According to current research , Schizophrenia is a mental health condition distinguished by vast harm in cognition that place intense limitations on functional recovery (Eack 1). Schizophrenic disorders normally are shown in adolescents or early adulthood and tend to occur in reclusive, isolated individuals ( Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia 2). Because schizophrenia is such a problem in society and families, something should be done to help patients and families cope with this disorder (Jungbauer 605). Schizophrenia not only affects the patient , but also the family and community .

Hippocrates was the first to recognize that mental illness was due to ‘disturbed physiology’ as opposed to ‘displeasure of the gods or evidence of demonic possession’. It was not until about one thousand years later that the first place designated for the mentally ill came to be in 15th century Spain. Before the 15th century, it was largely up to individual’s families to care for them. By the 17th century, society was ‘often housing them with handicapped people, vagrants, and delinquents. Those considered insane are increasingly treated inhumanely, often chained to walls and kept in dungeons’. There are great strides for the medical treatments for the mentally

Throughout the many years, there have been many negative public perceptions of Schizophrenia, which is known by majority of the public as an indication of mental illness. This disorder is most of the time perceived by the public as caused by psychological factors. People with this mental illness are considered to be unpredictable and threatening (Angermeyer & Matschinger, 2003, p. 526). Most patients have a behavioural dysfunction. Victims, families and society carry a substantial burden due to this illness (Wood & Freedman, 2003).

Mental illness is one of the top leading causes of disability accountability in Australia (ABS, 2007). The Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2007 reported that approximately 1 in every 5 Australian is affected each year and about 3% of the population of Australia is afflicted by psychotic disorder; essentially schizophrenia, where the person displays distorted sense of reality (ABS, 2007). The prevalence estimate of schizophrenia is 1.1% of the population ranging from 18 years old and above that is, as many as 51 million of the population worldwide suffer from this illness (NIMH, 2014). The etiology of schizophrenia has still a long way to go although perspectives have changed considering the number of factors as the cause of this illness such as psychodynamic and or hereditary (Swapnil & Parmanand, 2010). Schizophrenia is a mental

Mental health disorders are highly prevalent in most of the countries and account of a large proportion of disease burden. In recent years, many countries have made the prevention of mental health disorders top priority, given the economic burden associated with the mental health disorders. Canadians seeking assistance for mental health problems face lengthy waiting lists for all most all mental health services. This contributes to over-crowding in emergency rooms and to resources wasted when problems become worse or people wait for service not appropriate to their needs. Delay in to service have had led to costly no-shows in many community mental health service providers and family service agencies. With limited resources mental service providers

A cause that every individual should think about how to resolve such sadness in the world is mental health. Mental health had ruined many childhoods of many and the lives of many. The issues of mental health have increasingly grown throughout the years, here in Canada. One in five Canadians suffers through mental health, and the twenty percent of teens in Canada affected by mental health, and substance abuse issues. For mental health is drowning many teens around the world from physical, verbal, social and cyberbullying at school and even at home. This leads them into a deep depression to where untrue things pop in their perfectly innocent minds. In the first place, they require my voice and yours to speak up for themselves. To be able to express

Schizophrenia, although affecting only one percent of the population, has a direct affect on society today. This disease, if left untreated, poses threat to health care professionals (including psychiatrists), law enforcement personnel, and family members responsible for the care and support of the schizophrenia patient. This paper addresses the causes of schizophrenia and the myths surrounding this complicated ailment, the affect of untreated or misunderstood aspects of schizophrenia has on society and important crisis intervention strategies for those in close contact to victims of schizophrenia.

When Schizophrenia was first discovered it was looked at as dementia praecox, a term introduced by Dr. Kraepelin. The term generally refers to any type of psychotic disorder characterized by the distortion of reality. When Kraepelin introduced the term the mentally ill were looked down on in the religious world. Patients were seen as being corrupted by the devil and one form of a treatment for these patients was an exorcism, in an attempt to rid the body and soul of the demons. In turn, people were finding that the exorcisms had no effect on the patients and they took treatments a step further by submerging the patient in ice baths until they lost consciousness. When the treatment failed yet again, doctors would drill a hole into the skull of the patient.

Dan Hoeweler a schizophrenic poet writes in his poem “Blast off to Insanity”, “They say I am mad/ that I am evil/ and creepy/ that my genes are corrupted/ and my brain is deformed/ that my actions are freaky/ that my behavior is not the norm…” Dementia Praecox: a psychotic disorder characterized by loss of contact with the environment, by noticeable deterioration of functioning in everyday life, and by disintegration of one’s personality. What we know as schizophrenia today has been around for at least two centuries, but not named until the early 1900’s by Kraepelin. In order to fully understand this disease you need to know the types and symptoms, the causes, and the treatment and recovery.

Over the years, a disorder known as Schizophrenia has affected many people across the globe. Before advances in the 20th century mental health movement occurred, many thought that the symptoms conveyed by an individual with the disorder were demonically possessed (Walker and Tessner 2008). Today, more and more people are being properly educated about this disorder and understand its effects on individuals, however, there are misguided and false perceptions about it, similar to those prior to the 20th century.

History. Some of the earliest evidence of schizophrenia were seen in the Bible, and Greek and Latin texts. In the Bible, people were accused of being demonically possessed or holy based on the visions they saw (if visions involved Jesus). In Greek mythology, individuals were said to be punished by the Gods of they had symptoms of schizophrenia. Between years 1450-1830 in Europe, and North and South America, people were accused of being witches; similarly, in France, people were thought to have reverted to beasts. Most early treatments ranged from exposure to music and philosophy to torture and killings. However, in Egypt, schizophrenia was seen as a disease of the heart and uterus caused by pus, poop, or demons. While the Egyptians were incorrect in their diagnosis of the root cause of schizophrenia, at least they treated it as a medical issue. While there was confirmation of the existence of schizophrenia, the prevalence was never noted because of stigmas and how difficult it was to diagnose. Many symptoms could be confused with symptoms of drunkenness, drug usage, and even other Major Depressive Disorders. It was not until the late 1800s and mid 1900s that Schizophrenia was adequately addressed.

Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that has haunted man-kind for centuries. Documents have been found aging this disease to the times of the Pharaohs in Ancient Egypt. The first diagnosed case was in 1887 and made a huge impact in mental disease (Burton). Emile Kraepelin was the one who first diagnosed schizophrenia and his work still impacts the DSM-classifications (Ebert). Schizophrenia has typically been looked down upon by cultures throughout time. There are many stereotypical and incorrect thoughts on schizophrenia that have stemmed from past generations. Past cultures have thought of schizophrenia as the devils entrance into the present world. Their views of “becoming crazy” stem from the demonizing of a person through

This essay focuses on the diagnosis of schizophrenia, a major mental illness with much stigma and misinformation associated with it. World Health Organisation (WHO, 2012) epidemiological evidence suggests that schizophrenia is a mental illness affecting 24 million people worldwide. This essay will define schizophrenia and its characteristic signs and symptoms in relation to cognition, mood, behaviour and psychosocial functioning. The criteria enabling a diagnosis of schizophrenia are explored, as well as contemporary nursing care and pharmacological treatments. The positive and negative signs and symptoms of schizophrenia will be discussed and the treatment and care requirements outlined by the NSW Mental Health Act (2007) are also

Schizophrenia is a severe mental illness that affects the brain causing disruption in a person’s emotional response and thought process caused by psychotics’ symptoms such as delusions, hallucinations, incoherence, catatonic or hyperactive behavior and flat effect (Simon H. & Zieve D., 2013). Although the exact cause of schizophrenia is still not understood today. Schizophrenia are believed to be caused by a combination of factors including family history, chemical imbalance of the brain, environmental factors and substance abuse (Queensland Government, 2012). According to world health organization (2014), 24 million people worldwide are affected by schizophrenia and 50% affected by it are not receiving the holistic care to treat the disorder. A combination various treatments of medication, psychological intervention, psychosocial intervention and community support to lead for a full recovery of the individual (The Royal Australian & New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, 2009).