Challenges and Opportunities for Those with Schizophrenia

Posted 14-06-2011

Schizophrenia is one of the most misunderstood and stigmatized mental illnesses. Those with this complex mental health disorder find it difficult to tell the difference between real and unreal experiences, think logically, have normal emotional responses, and behave normally in social situations.

Late adolescence and early adulthood are peak periods for the onset of schizophrenia. Of those diagnosed with the disorder, 40 percent of men and 23 percent of women manifest their symptoms before the age of 19 with the rest usually presenting before age 35. Not only is this a critical age range for a young adult’s social and vocational development, but the disease makes normal thinking and functioning difficult, significantly inhibiting the opportunity to receive education and training in skills needed for employment. Many schizophrenics experience a lifetime of social problems including unemployment, poverty, homelessness, and substance abuse.

For these young adults, schizophrenia rehabilitation programs such as Pasadena Villa provide opportunities to overcome the risk of succumbing to social problems and to learn and experience education and training in areas the resident may have missed due to illness. These include job preparation and counseling; money management; communication and social skills; and life skills training such as caring for themselves, catching a bus or grocery shopping. In conjunction with appropriate medical care, a residential mental health program may increase a schizophrenic loved one’s chance of living a more productive, happy, and healthy life.

The Villa Orlando and Pasadena Villa’s Smoky Mountain Lodge are adult intensive psychiatric residential treatment centers for clients with serious mental illnesses. We also provide other individualized therapy programs, step-down residential programs, and less intensive mental health services, such as Community Residential Homes, Supportive Housing, Day Treatment Programs and Life Skills training. Pasadena Villa’s Outpatient Center in Raleigh, North Carolina offers partial hospitalization (PHP) and an intensive outpatient program (PHP). If you or someone you know may need mental health services, please complete our contact form or call us at 877-845-5235 for more information.