22 Terrace Review — Wednesday, May 4, 1988

Mental — ae
Health |

awareness @

week _

proclaimed

Terrace Mayor Jack Talstra
has proclaimed the week of May
1 as ‘‘Mental Health Week’’ in
Terrace and May 7 as ‘‘Schizo-
phrenia Awareness Day’’. The
proclamation recognizes that
schizophrenia affects one per;
cent of the Canadian population
under 40 years of age, and in
youth particularly the disease is
termed ‘‘youths’ greatest dis-
abler”. The proclamation also
declares that both adolescents
and adults with any mental ill-
iness require special medical at-
tention and tender care.

Schizophrenia, although |:

treatable with drugs, is a much
misunderstood disease and
many sufferers are mistakenly
labeled as ‘‘crazy’’ or ‘‘insane”’
and rejected by society.

Mental health authorities
stress that this simply isn’t true. .
Schizophrenics are not crazy and
in general are not dangerous.
The majority are quiet,

withdrawn people suffering -

from a disease which makes it
difficult for them to function in
groups but who can function
-well in a protected environment
if they receive proper treatment.
Schizophrenia is a physical
disorder of the brain and ner-
vous system as are many other
disabling diseases such as
Alzheimer’s
sclerosis, but the social costs of
schizophrenia are much higher:
rejection, shame, fear — even
exclusion from the family.
Understanding, acceptance
and support for sufferers is one
of the main goals of the Friends
and Families of Schizophrenics,
a non-profit organization of in-
terested people seeking further

research into the cause, control .

and cure of schizophrenia.
Once the condition is diagnos-
ed and the best of several
available medications is
prescribed, the schizophrenic
‘can start to rebuild his or her
life. Through education and
understanding, friends and
families lose their fear of the

disease and can begin to work —

slowly as they would with a
child.
Tn‘ time, and in the right set-
- ting, the schizophrenic can begin
to reassume a role in society.
‘There is no cure for the
“disease yet but researchers are
_ working hard. In the meantime,
- groups like the Terrace Chapter
of. Friends and Families of
-Schizophrenics are working hard
~ to build a bridge of understand-
“jing and they hope that soon the
~ schizophrenic will be treated no

differently than people suffering ;

- "from any other disease.

or multiple

This week Is Mental Health Week, and groups like The Friends and Familles of Schizophrenics are working hard
to build a bridge of understanding between the community and the mentally Ill. Members Connie Delmarque-
Smith, a social worker at Mills Memorial Hospital, and Marsha Lloyd, a community nurse with Mental Health,

-held a proclamation signing ceremony last week with Mayor Jack Talstra.

¢
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. ;

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