By Josh Hall | @Vancan19

96% face discrimination

Schizophrenia Society of Alberta fundraising campaign encourages looking past the illness

Nov 24, 2023 | 1:47 PM

The Schizophrenia Society of Alberta is once again hosting its annual fundraising campaign, this year with a goal of $175,000.

The ‘See Me, Not My Illness’ campaign also aims to raise awareness, notably that 86 per cent of people living with schizophrenia experience discrimination and stigma daily.

This can affect individuals’ willingness to seek treatment, in turn making it difficult for them to find employment and housing, the society says.

“Twenty years ago, when Diana was twenty-two, she at times lived on the streets. She was down in the dumps. She was a drug addict, an alcoholic, and a heavy smoker. After a forced hospitalization, she learned she had schizophrenia. With great effort Diana gave up all her addictions. With a healthy frame of mind, she found her way to the Schizophrenia Society of Alberta,” the close friend of a client shared.

“At the Schizophrenia Society, Diana found her voice. With a personality that pops she tells her life story. She talks about her addictions and how hard it is to live with schizophrenia. With confidence and sincerity, she shares her story with nursing students, mental health patients and mostly high school students in their Calm classes.”

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Success stories such as Diana’s are more likely with the help of supporters, it’s said.

The society notes that one-in-100 people are diagnosed with schizophrenia, the equivalent of about 47,000 Albertans.

Programming is available in Red Deer, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Calgary and Edmonton.

To contribute to the campaign, visit schizophrenia.ab.ca.