Three descriptions of living with schizophrenia:
Steven: "For five years, every time I left the house I heard voices, threats, telling me I was 'stupid; 'a loser'; 'an idiot' and other terrible things. I thought everyone was looking at me. I got into fights because of it, it was paralysing - the whole world was against me. I felt watched and judged. I wanted to quit college, and life. I stopped leaving the house and the only thing stopping me killing myself was my family and friend."
Debra: "The first time I went into hospital, I was about 14 and had been hearing voices for a long time. The voices were constantly shouting at me, telling me to kill myself, to kill other people, that I was fat, ugly, dirty and worthless. They told me to walk in front of the traffic, so I did. I saw images of dead people sitting on my bed; I thought that I was psychic and had a link with the other side and had been chosen to investigate their deaths. I was terrified all the time. I was so scared and drained that I just wanted it to end… if that meant jumping out of the window, then that's what I would have to do."
Mike: "It all started when I was taking my A level, I was predicted 3 A's. I began to think that I was a platform for a battle between good and evil. A good presence on my right side; a dark sense of evil on my left side… good versus evil - a constant battle. I was exhausted, I totally withdrew and stopped leaving the house. I was terrified for my future."
Friday 10 October is second day Succot. But, for many in our community, the day also holds another significance - it is World Mental Health Day. The theme of the day this year is "Living with Schizophrenia", a diagnostic sub-group of psychosis.
Huge NHS cuts mean many lack access to services
Steven, Debra and Mike have been brave enough to face the stigma of living with psychosis and to talk about what it is like. Luckily, they have been able to access the intensive early help needed and are well on their own road to recovery. But huge NHS cuts mean that many lack access to timely and effective services and, without that, the future looks much more bleak.
Life expectancy in psychosis is reduced by 16-25 years from a combination of high rates of suicide, mainly within the first five years, and high rates of physical illness, in particular premature cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, Family and friends face a significant burden. The World Health Organisation have calculated that, at a family level, the burden and human suffering caused by psychosis is exceeded only by quadriplegia and dementia (WHO 2001).
The onset of psychosis usually occurs between adolescence and adulthood. Because of the typically young age, psychosis can be particularly debilitating with far-reaching implications for the individual and his/her family. All aspects of life are affected - education, employment, relationships and social functioning. The lifetime risk of suicide is between 4 and 15 per cent. Most suicides occur in the early years of illness.
We also know that a considerable proportion of those sleeping rough have experienced severe mental health problems and without the necessary level of help have been unable to maintain the fundamentals of life - friendship, a roof over their head and respite from fear.
Jami, the mental health service for the Jewish community, works with schools, communities and young people to highlight the need to access help for mental health problems as soon as possible. Once they have come forward, Jami will support them on their journey and ensure that they are helped in navigating statutory mental health services and getting the best care on offer.
Jami also supports people to live independently. On top of that, Jami offers them and their families support, care and a place to recover. All that, plus a hot meal, laughter and kindness to help them find their way out of darkness.
