Just a few decades ago, schizophrenia was known as a “kiss of death” diagnosis. The prevailing view was drained of all hope: individuals with this form of mental illness had no chance to recover.
“Even psychiatrists had a very hopeless view of people with schizophrenia,” says Chris Summerville, CEO of the Schizophrenia Society of Canada (SSC). “They believed symptom reduction was possible with medication, but they didn’t see these individuals ever having a full, rewarding life.” Getting married, finding a job or living independently were all seen as out of reach, he says.