The Government was urged yesterday to take the initiative in changing attitudes by highlighting 'the true facts' about schizophrenia. Europe Intelligence Wire via NewsEdge Corporation : The Government was urged yesterday to take the initiative in changing attitudes by highlighting 'the true facts' about schizophrenia. Mr John Saunders, director of Schizophrenia Ireland, speaking in Kilkenny also said the State, through the health boards, should provide information and education on mental illness. 'Stigma - Breaking Down The Barriers' is the theme of the 13th biennial conference held by Schizophrenia Ireland. 'The truth is that schizophrenia occurs in all societies, at the same rate, regardless of class, colour, religion, culture or intelligence,' Mr Saunders said. One of the myths the conference heard discussed was that people with schizophrenia are violent. 'This myth is exacerbated by the media. People with schizophrenia are no more likely to be violent than any other group in the community,' Mr Saunders claimed. It was also untrue to say that people with the illness could not recover. Schizophrenia as 'a life-long illness is not inevitable, people do improve and recover and hope is regarded as an essential ingredient for recovery,' Mr Saunders pointed out. More than 250 delegates are attending the conference to discuss schizophrenia, which is characterised by disturbances in a person's thoughts, perceptions, emotions and behaviour. It affects one person in every hundred. The seminar was officially opened by Mr Tim O'Malley, Minister of State for Health and Children with special responsibility for disability and mental illness. He said that a history of mental illness should never be a cause of discrimination, stigmatisation or prejudice. Mr O'Malley expressed concern at the prevalence of polypharmacy, simultaneous prescription of a large number of drugs to individual patients in mental hospitals. 'Traditionally, polypharmacy has a negative connotation implying an inappropriate or irrational use of multiple medications,' he said. He envisaged the new Mental Health Commission taking an active part in dealing with the problem. The role of the media in presenting mental illness was the subject of a panel discussion yesterday afternoon with Fintan O'Toole of The Irish Times. Also taking part were Mr Peter Byrne, consultant psychiatrist, and Mr Fergal Bowers, editor of Irish Health.com. The keynote address will be given today by Dr Patrick Corrigan, professor of psychiatry at the University of Chicago, who will speak about various forms of stigma and the basic strategies to change them. Prof Corrigan is the director of the Centre for Psychiatric Rehabilitation, a clinical research and training programme for people with severe mental illness and their families. <> << Copyright ©2002 Financial Times Limited, All Rights Reserved >>
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