Treatments

There is no cure for schizophrenia, but effective treatments are available.

Treatments are available

It’s essential for individuals with serious mental illnesses, like schizophrenia, to learn about and actively manage their conditions. Medication is crucial to treatment, helping manage symptoms and enabling participation in therapy and rehabilitation. Navigating medications can be daunting, but there are resources and supports available to help you.

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Managing symptoms with medication

The first step for treating schizophrenia is antipsychotic medication. These medications help to relieve the symptoms of schizophrenia, such as delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized thinking. Many options are available, and it can take time to find the medication that works best for each person. Taking medications as directed is critical for avoiding relapses.

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Exploring therapy & rehabilitation options

Once the main symptoms of schizophrenia have been relieved by medications, people can explore a range of therapy and rehabilitation options to manage their illness and improve their quality of life. This can include cognitive remediation, cognitive behavioural therapy, social skills training, supported work programs, etc. These options should be discussed with a healthcare provider to find what will work best for each person.

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BCSS PODCAST

Look Again: Mental Illness Re-Examined

Listen to Look Again: Mental Illness Re-Examined,’ where we chat about schizophrenia with family members, medical professionals, and people with lived experience.

MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS NEAR YOU

Find your local assessment centre.

If you are not in immediate crisis but think you may be experiencing symptoms of schizophrenia or psychosis, find a mental health professional near you to get assessed. Call 8-1-1 to find a mental health assessment centre in your community or find a local EPI centre near you.

GET ASSESSED