Schizophrenia Awareness Week "Rethink the label, reclaim the story"

@Ziggy Thankyou for sharing, your post has definitely opened my eyes to something I know little about.

hey @Ziggy thank you so much for making this post and spreading the awareness, i really appreciate your insight and learning more about your journey.

i wish you all the best with the knee surgery, i've got my fingers and toes crossed that your recovery goes smoothly too. we're here for you 💗

Thank you for making us aware of Schizophrenia awareness week @Ziggy

I was forced to be aware of it from a young age. Eg 10 years when I visited parents in psych ward. Not fun. So spent much time researching it since. I am a senior now.

I now take the diagnosis with a hefty grain of pink Himalayan salt and the so called treatments. Still the word describes experiences and has a big impact on medications. You describe a lot of the suffering and the stigma. Yes telling the story behind the label is important. My parents were very different in personality and culture.

On a side note… I wanted to go to Antarctica back in the 1980s when I studied Earth Science. I am settling by doing a song called Shackleton in my singing group.

take care and good to meet you

apple

Hi @Ziggy thank you for this post.

It is an extremely well written and explanative post.

Have you though about becoming an advocate for schizophrenia yourself. Now with electronic communications you don't have to be in crowded rooms etc

Schizophrenia is actually quite common, I actually thought the prevalence in Australia was around 1 in 100.

All MH issues need better awareness and understanding by the general public, but I think schizophrenia (and DID, which has approximately the same prevalence) have particularly bad "reputations" and therefore need, probably, greater advocacy.

As you know, there has been the 'Bondi Occurance' but no one ever says that people with MH issues, including schizophrenia (and DID) are much more likely to be victims of crime that commit them.

Thank you @Till23,
I have been a part of the SANE speakers program since its inception in 1999 but since the passing of good friend in (former SANE CEO) Barbara Hocking OAM, the retirement of Dr Paul Morgan (formerly SANE's Director of Communications) & retirement of Margie Nunn (Coordinator SANE Speakers Program at SANE Australia) I have no contacts within SANE Australia. Although my recent contribution (see article titled 'A Current Affair - Stigma Exemplified' in the forums) and subsequent email chain with SANE stigmawatch resulted in some beautifully appropriate correspondence from Gayle McNaught (SANE Manager of Public Affairs and Advocacy) in which she assured me she would "...share your details with our new Peer Ambassador Manager to ensure you’re on our lists when we re-launch" I have had no further communications from within SANE... It saddens me that my experienced voice is no longer heard on a broader platform because I believe I hold valuable experiences and can eloquently address issues in a variety of forums. I have no fear of crowds and enjoy public speaking as it is a very real and immediate connection. ... just a few of my achievements in advocacy in the media include quoted responses to the launch of 'A Beautiful Mind' Movie and at the launch of the 'SANE guide to getting back to work' along with several radio interviews and appearing on the early 90's 'Peter Couchman Show' to discuss what it means to have schizophrenia. I have previously undertaken media training with SANE speakers program and more recently as a member of the Committee of Management at VMIAC.

I have to admit in terms of my sharing of my own personal experience with the diagnosis of schizophrenia it is just 'a matter of fact' that I carry this diagnosis. It has not stopped me living a full life but it has certainly interrupted said 'full life' from time to time. Nonetheless I am very positive about the future as with my journey through life which has been different to the one 'youthful me' anticipated. Perhaps my journey has in fact been 'full to the brim' with varying experiences... some of which hold validity in our shared reality and others of which hold value only for me (or anyone who may wish to hear of therm). I guess any real sense of a 'career' was interrupted but life has always been full.... harsh at times yes, but full nonetheless.
Thanks your words @Till23

Sadly the diagnosis of schizophrenia does hold a 'bad reputation' which is why I humbly challenge the narrative (through my own truth) at every opportunity and yes it seems the outcomes the current inquiry around the 'Bondi Occurance' is predestined to blame mismanagement of the man's mental health as the primary cause of the tragedy.

One of the most tragic things which I have borne witness to over the last 35 years (post diagnosis) is the loss of ownership of the language within the mental health sector. Whilst our friends within the LGBTQIA+ movement took ownership and indeed Pride in the language of 'different to the perceived norm'. 'We' in the mental health sector have shied away from owning the language of psychiatry and as such I have witnessed it unwind to further marginalisation and misunderstanding from correct use of language directly impacting the very real people who carry any diagnosis. It seems this has resulted in most fearing to identify with a diagnosis for the judgement (of the uneducated) that may go with it. I carry a sense of Pride in my diagnosis because despite all I have 'gotten on with it'. When first diagnosed my Dad & I went to the Schizophrenia Fellowship where we met Dr. Margaret Leggatt who became a source of much compassion and wonderful guidance. To see this easily identifiable resource eventually become a hazy association with mental health issues under the banner of Wellways is a pertinent example of giving up the language rather than 'owning it'. Unfortunately (and in my opinion) the naming of helpful entities in the mental health sector has become a case of 'nice sound grabs' (like 'Headspace', 'the Orange Door', 'MIND', 'Wellways' &c. rather than just naming the 'issue we address here' which would be so much more appropriate and accessible than 'playing PC with our diagnoses' whilst almost encouraging the media (& anyone who wants to) permission to play with 'our language'.

Thank you @Till23, @Appleblossom, @rav3n, & @Former-Member for taking the time to respond to my brief rant about 'Schizophrenia Awareness Week' quietly sliding by.
Hope to correspond further with you in the future.

@Ziggy Thankyou for sharing, I'm going to look into the mental health first aid course as I didn't know about it until you mentioned it, I've done the common one alongside of my low voltage rescue, but I'd definitely be interested in the mental health one.

Thankyou again for sharing and enlightening me.

@Former-MemberCheers, https://www.mhfa.com.au/ do great work in educating the Gen Pop.
I recall just after we lost Danny Frawley (former AFL StKilda Footballer and media icon) to depression and resultant 'poor decision making' I had a couple of (then current) footballers from StKilda FC approach me informally to thank me my contribution to the MHFA course that they had (all) just undertaken (at the direction of the club)... which was just really cool hey.
On the other hand I would not recommend [course name removed by moderator] to anyone with a mental health issue as it was possibly the most triggering course I have ever undertaken (some 8 odd years ago).

Wow @Ziggy you have had an interesting career in advocacy for schizophrenia. Hopefully you will be able to continue that in some way.

@Ziggy It is great you have done so much advocacy and public speaking over the years and knew good people in the field. Real kudos to you.