PSYCHOSIS associated with a long-term illness such as schizophrenia affects about one in 100 people while about three in 100 people will experience a psychotic episode at some point in their lives.
Most of those who develop schizophrenia will be first affected in their late teens and early 20s.
In the lead-up to Schizophrenia Awareness Week from May 15 to 21, The Land and the Rural Adversity Mental Health Program (RAMHP) are running the next online Friday Forum at 12pm on this Friday, May 6, at www.theland.com.au to talk about schizophrenia and psychosis.
The panellists are ready to answer your questions about the signs somebody may be experiencing a psychotic episode or suffering from schizophrenia; the treatment options; some of the contributing factors; where and when to get help; how to support someone living with psychosis including schizophrenia, and how to talk about it.
Dr Nicholas Burns is a consultant psychiatrist with more than 20 years’ experience in public mental health services and works in forensic mental health in regional NSW.
Sheila Openshaw is the group leader of Hastings Mental Health Support Group and was NSW carer of the year in 2015.
Alison Jansen is the education and training lead at Mental Illness Fellowship Queensland, while Professor Cyndi Shannon Weickert is from Neuro Science Research Australia and has focused on the molecular developmental neurobiology of schizophrenia