1 in 100 people will develop Schizophrenia during their lifetime.  That is 300,000 Canadians, or to put it a little closer to home, 9000 Nova Scotians.  It affects people in every cultural and economic group.  It most often strikes people in their early 20’s.

The mission of the Schizophrenia Society is to alleviate the suffering caused by Schizophrenia.  We strive to do this by:

1. Providing support and information is those living with Schizophrenia and their family members

Eg. Monthly support meetings, hospital visitation, assistance navigating the Mental Health Care System, etc.

2. Providing education to promote public awareness:  eg. Regularly provide speakers to local high

Schools and community groups and provide training in public speaking to members and their family members to encourage their participation in public education opportunities.  Locally, our group has provided a teaching module developed by the Schizophrenia Society of Canada to every high school in Lunenburg County as well as the necessary training in its use.  In 2006, we donated teaching modules,  Reaching Out and copies of Rays of Hope to Hillside Pines Retirement Home, the Mental Health Clinic, South Shore Regional Hospital and Verge House in Bridgewater.  We plan to donate a subscription of the Schizophrenia Digest to the Bridgewater Library in 2007 and make available more copies of Rays of Hope. 

      3.       Advocacy:  eg. Assistance to individuals experiencing difficulties accessing treatment, schools or

       housing; supporting Provincial and National Societies in their anti-stigma campaigns which

       includes the annual Walk the World for Schizophrenia and the Iris Sale Campaign. 

4.         Developing partnerships:  eg. CMHA – public education, organized a Volunteer Fair in local high schools to encourage volunteerism amongst youth; South Shore Regional, Queen’s County and Fisherman’s Memorial hospitals hosted our annual Iris Sale Campaign in April 2006, and we partnered with Parkview Education Centre in the Field of Dreams, 2006.  In 2007, we will be partnering with Hillside Pines for one of our monthly meetings. 

All of these activities are possible because of the fundraising efforts of our members and the support they receive from our business community and the citizens of Lunenburg County.  Our major fundraiser is the annual Walk the World for Schizophrenia