Feb 1 newspaper standard

The “other” mental illness: Schizophrenia Health Talk With Dr Robyn Vafiadis

Part one This article may seem to have an odd title. How many psychiatric illnesses are there? Of course, there are many different kinds of mental illness, just as there are many kinds of breathing problems, or joint pains. We’re more familiar with some mental ill nesses than others. For example, we often hear about depression or anxiety, in differ ent forms. We’ve all had these feelings at some stage times, though not usually to the point that they become an illness. There are campaigns to make us more aware and understanding, for example, “RUOK?” and “Beyond Blue”. These are ex cellent projects and deserve our support. Many well-known people: sports player, musicians and others, have spoken about their illness: again a very good thing But all in all, how many celebrities have openly talked about having schizophrenia? And yet, chances are that at least one member of a sporting club or community group has some experience of it. This is why I’ve called schizophrenia the “other” mental illness: less understood, less talked about in public; and - if I can say this - less appealing. It’s the one we shy away from discuss ing. It’s the “other”, more shadowy illness Schizophrenia is, so to speak, a different ball game from anxiety or depression. It’s what is called a “psychotic” illness. This means that, during attacks, the per son loses touch, to some extent, with what is real. The rest of the time, when their illness is settled, the person is experiencing things in their usual way. Q1: So, why call it “the other illness”? A: Some reasons we’ve considered al ready. But because most people know little about schizophrenia, it’s not only unfamiliar, it holds an air of mystery, even a level of fear. Q2: “isn’t schizophrenia the thing where people have split personalities?” A: No it isn’t, even though Hollywood might suggest otherwise. The term actually means “split mind”, not split personality. It’s the thinking processes that are bro ken in some way. This can mean that the patient’s thoughts do not work as they normally would. They may become agitated, or act in an

unusual way. They may become confused or lose their interest in life. Q3: So it’s the one where people go “cra zy”, “nuts”, “out of their mind”? A: if you stop and think, these words are not only cruel, but not true Terms like these belong back in the dark ages, where people didn’t know much about illness of any kind. Anyone who thought or acted differently were feared or laughed at. Now in the twenty-first century, we have so much more knowledge and understand ing of most illnesses. Because of this, we are less likely to shun, or shame those with a mental illness. We can leave the derogato ry words in the past, where they belong. We can, and should, move on. Q4: “But people with schizophrenia say and do pretty strange things, don’t they??” A: It’s easier to understand if we look at some common symptoms. Each patient will have some more, or less of each type. Like any illness, some people are more badly affected than others. One common symptom is where the person sees or hears things which are ac tually not there. These are “hallucinations”. Another common symptom is where the patient has ideas or beliefs which are clear ly out of touch with reality. These are “delu sions”. It’s not imagination. To the person these things are real. They are signs of the illness which is schizophrenia. In just the same way as asthma has signs of wheeze and cough, or bowel problems might cause pain or vomiting. It’s important to remember a couple of things *The disorder is caused by actual problems in the brain cells and the chemi cals in the brain. It is, if you like, part of how the brain is “wired up”. You can’t just “snap out of it” The medical world has learned a lot about schizophrenia in recent decades, but there’s still a lot to learn. We do know that it’s largely caused by abnormalities in the brain and its chemicals. Sometimes it goes in families but often it doesn’t. And like all illnesses, it can be in fluenced by what is occurring in, or affect ing, the person’s life: their environment. Many people with schizophrenia, espe cially if they have the right care, hold good jobs, or get married and have kids, or live the life they would want to. Q5: so what causes it? Can I catch it A: No, you can’t catch it.

WHEN the bell rang to start the 2023 school year at Yarram Primary School it was down to business for the students and teachers. Principal Karen Langdon said that it had been a seamless start to the school year with all the preps eager to be at school and enjoying getting to know their teacher and their fellow classmates. Ms Langdon said that the students were looking forward to starting their swimming program. “The swim program commences this Friday, and our athletics training starts soon, so it is going to be a busy term but that’s the way we like it,” she said. Yarram Primary School’s new prep students enjoyed exploring their new surround ings and getting to know their classmates on their first day of primary school. Settling in

Alberton Primary school preps Indi Smith, Pippa Jackson, Archie Gordon and Saxon Norman ready to start an exciting first day with the rest of their prep class on day one the new school year.

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ALBERTON Primary School was a hive of activity on Monday morning as the new preps arrived for their first day of primary schooling. As well as new preps, two new teachers in Michelle Taylor and Kimberley Coulthard were welcomed to the school community. Michelle will be teaching prep 1 and 2 while Kimberley will teach the grades 5 and 6’s. Principal Malissa Nicol is looking forward to a busy year at the school. New arrivals

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Alberton Primary School Captains Alex MacDonald and Breanna Wade are looking forward to being the leaders at their school in 2023.

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Wednesday, February 1, 2023 - THE BRIDGE - Page 15