Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a serious mental disorder in which people interpret reality abnormally. It can result in hallucinations, delusions, and extremely disordered thinking and behaviour that impairs daily functioning. The cause of schizophrenia isn’t known, but it’s likely a combination of several factors, like the way your body works, family history, environment, and life experiences.
Schizophrenia can be a frightening experience, but many people learn how to manage schizophrenia with the right tools and supports.
What is normal?
For most people, schizophrenia comes on slowly, with subtle warning signs. In the early phase of schizophrenia, people may seem eccentric, unmotivated, emotionless, and reclusive to others. Of course, at certain times, anyone can feel or act in these ways. But with schizophrenia, these symptoms are followed by a gradual decline in functioning.
What are common signs and symptoms?
Schizophrenia involves a range of problems with thinking, behaviour, and emotions.
- Delusions: false beliefs that are not based in reality, like thinking you're being harmed or harassed, have exceptional abilities, or are famous.
- Hallucinations: seeing or hearing things that don't exist, but with the full force and impact of a normal experience.
- Disorganized thinking: effective communication can be impaired, and answers to questions can be partially or completely unrelated.
- Extremely disorganized or abnormal motor behaviour: from childlike silliness to unpredictable agitation.
- Negative symptoms: reduced or lack of ability to function normally. For example, neglecting personal hygiene or appearing to lack emotion, losing interest in everyday activities, or socially withdrawing.
Should I seek help?
Often, people with schizophrenia aren’t aware that their difficulties are due to a mental disorder. So it falls on family and friends to urge them to get help. If you think someone you know may have symptoms of schizophrenia, talk to him or her about your concerns. You can offer encouragement and support and help them find the help they need. In some cases, emergency hospitalization may be needed.
People with schizophrenia require lifelong treatment. Early treatment may help get symptoms under control before serious complications develop and may help improve the long-term outlook. If your loved one poses a danger to themselves or others, you may need to call 911 for help so they can be evaluated by a mental health professional.
Tools
Mental Health 101
The Centre for Addiction and Mental HealthKnowledge is power. This series of free online tutorials is a starting point for learning about mental health. You can come away with a greater understanding of the mental health concern you are interested in knowing more about. The tutorials can...
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37 Program(s)
The Gathering Place
The Gathering Place provides a safe, non-clinical, non-stigma space for clients who are stable in the diagnoses to attend on a weekly basis. The activities planned for each week vary, ranging from cooking low-cost, simple meals; what resources are...
Mental Health and Addictions Provincial Intake
Mental Health and Addictions Provincial Intake is the entry point for all requests for service through the provincial toll free number 1-855-922-1122 Monday to Friday and all week-day holidays 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. as well as Tuesday and Thursday...
Access Wellness Nova Scotia
Access Wellness is a free single-session supportive counselling service for individuals, couples or families.
Sessions can be held over the phone, online with video, or in-person. People can speak with a qualified professional and learn strategies...
Hope For Mental Health
Hope For Mental Health provides a continuum of programs and services for people living with a mental illness and their family/friends. These programs promote and support wellness. “Living Well in Community”, is about providing the necessary supports...
Mental Health Acute Day Hospital
The Mental Health Acute Day Hospital cares for people with intense mental health issues or concerns. We offer:
- More closely monitored care than what is offered by community MHA clinics
- Support after you are discharged from an inpatient psychiatric...
Canadian Mental Health Association - Colchester East Hants Branch
The Canadian Mental Health Association, Colchester East Hants Branch provides public education, advocacy, and a resource center to support the resiliency and recovery of people...
Canadian Mental Health Association - Halifax-Dartmouth Branch
The Canadian Mental Health Association, Halifax-Dartmouth Branch works at the community level and facilitates access to the resources people require to maintain and improve...
Canadian Mental Health Association - Nova Scotia Division
Canadian Mental Health Associations in Nova Scotia are the oldest community-based mental health and addictions charitable organizations in the province, founded in 1908. The CMHA...
Healthy Minds Cooperative
Healthy Minds Cooperative is an innovative mental health cooperative that provides a variety of peer-based services to people with lived experience of mental health issues and to...
Hope for Wellness HelpLine
The Hope for Wellness HelpLine offers immediate mental health counselling and crisis intervention to all Indigenous peoples across Canada. Experienced and culturally competent...
Eskasoni Mental Health
Eskasoni Mental Health Services (EMHS) provides a wide range of services to the Mi’kmaq people of Eskasoni, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. The Tui'kn Residential School Survivor Team...
Caregivers Nova Scotia
Caregivers Nova Scotia provides free programs, services, information, and advocacy for family and friend caregivers. We are dedicated to providing recognition and practical assistance to friends and family giving care.
211
211 is a free, confidential information and referral service that can connect you to thousands of programs and services offered by local community groups, nonprofits and government departments across Nova Scotia, 24/7.
Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services - Mental Health Programs and Services
Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services (CFMWS) is responsible for administering Non-Public Property (NPP) on behalf of the Chief of the Defence Staff and for delivering...
Veterans Affairs Canada Assistance Service
Veterans Affairs provide targeted services and benefits to improve well-being including support and services related to your physical and mental health and wellness.The VAC...
Families Matter in Mental Health
Families Matter in Mental Health is an 11-week education and support program for family or friends who are providing practical and/or emotional support to someone who has a...
Transition Hall
Transition Hall is a recovery-oriented service designed to support individuals diagnosed with a mental illness, and experiencing significant functional challenges, who would benefit from psychosocial and recovery focused care in a 24/7 setting.
Community Support Service (Child and Adolescent)
The Community Support Program is for school aged children and adolescents registered with the Child and Adolescent Mental Health program.
The program supports the work of the...
Health Psychology
Health Psychology offers psychological interventions for those with chronic and acute health conditions. The main focus is on the patient's mental and emotional reaction to an illness or their recovery from an illness.
Beacon Program
Beacon Program is a recovery-oriented program supporting people, 19 to 35 years of age, who live with severe and persistent mental illness and are experiencing a disruption in their daily lives due to their mental illness.
The team supports people...
Wellness Court
Wellness Court Programs are specialty or problem-solving courts, where a team of professionals helps treat the issues contributing to the individual coming into conflict with the...
Psychosocial Rehabilitation (PSR) Unit
The Psychosocial Rehabilitation Unit offers 24 hours a day, seven days a week support for individuals with mental illness (such as Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective Disorder and...
Geriatric Psychiatry Acute Inpatient Unit
The Geriatric Psychiatry Acute Inpatient Unit is for individuals over the age of 65 with a new onset of mental illness or for individuals of any age with dementia and complicated medical and/or psychological symptoms.
Geriatric Psychiatry Outpatient Program
Seniors mental health services provide assessment, consultation and treatments to:
- seniors aged 65 and older for a new onset of mental health challenges
- individuals of any age...
Adult Neurodevelopmental Stabilization Unit - Dual Diagnosis Program (Intellectual Disability in combination with Mental Illness)
The Adult Neurodevelopmental Stabilization Unit (ANSU) is an acute care unit that provides services for persons with intellectual disability and acute mental illness that cannot...
Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is used when an individual does not respond to or cannot tolerate medication. It is used to treat:
- Major depression (including agitated...
Connections
Connections Service is a recovery-focused program that provides supports and opportunities to adults living with mental illness such as schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder or...
Community Transition Program (CTP)
The Community Transition Program (CTP) helps adults who have complex (mental and physical) health and behavioural challenges, and residential/social support needs. The goal is to...
Community Outreach Assessment Support and Treatment Team (COAST) - Dual Diagnosis Program (Intellectual Disability in combination with Mental Illness)
The community outreach assessment support and treatment team provides services for persons with both intellectual disability and also mental illness. These services include:
- Ass...
School Mental Health (SchoolsPlus)
The school mental health clinicians provide individual and group therapy, mental health and addictions education for school staff and consultation services. Clinicians are on...
Provincial Mental Health and Addictions Crisis Line
The Provincial Mental Health and Addictions Crisis Line provides crisis intervention for children, youth and adults experiencing a mental health crisis or mental distress.
The...
Inpatient Mental Health Services
Inpatient mental health services are available for those who cannot be safely assessed, diagnosed and stabilized in the community.
First Nations Services
Mental Health clinicians work as part of the first nations health care team in several first nations communities. The Mental Health Clinician provides assessment, diagnosis and...
Crossroads Clubhouse
Crossroads Cape Breton is community organized to support people living with mental illness in reclaiming and enhancing their lives. People are referred to as “members” because...
Community Support Service (Adults)
The Community Support Teams for Adults/Community Supports for Adults supports individuals living with persistent mental illness to develop and maintain a safe, satisfying quality...
Adult Community Mental Health and Addictions Services
Community Mental Health and Addictions includes a team of mental health and addictions professionals who provide services on an outpatient basis. The team provides assessment...
Child and Adolescent Services
Child and Adolescent Services/Child Youth and Family/Child and Adolescent Outpatient Clinical Services provide mental health and addiction services to children and youth (under...
