May 24 is World Schizophrenia Day, also called World Schizophrenia Awareness Day. I display an image of a rhinoceros and her calf because animals are such a source of inspiration and tranquility to me when I struggle with the symptoms of schizophrenia. Many Mental Health Advocacy Groups are doing brilliant work today to bring the situation of those living with schizophrenia to the government’s attention and to the general population’s. I just participated in a brilliant webinar by the Alliance for Mental Health Policy (in the USA, @AllHealthPolicy on Twitter). The Schizophrenia and Psychosis Action Alliance (@sczaction on Twitter) is testifying at Capitol Hill (again, in the USA) about what should be done to improve the situation for those living with schizophrenia and their caregivers. You should also check out the organization SANE at @SANEAustralia on Twitter. Most importantly, the mental health community needs more testimony from mental health consumers about living with a mental illness or brain disorder. Symptoms of a mental illness or brain disorder are not things to bury in a deep and lonely grave while you try to show as a mental health consumer that you are like everyone else. These symptoms need to be understood by the general public, a public educated in school about how to help someone undergoing a mental health crisis. A mental health consumer talking about their symptoms should never be silenced by society. Society needs to listen.
