5 Twitter Accounts That Help Explain Life with Schizophrenia
by Leah Alexandra Goldstein
OC87 Recovery Diaries is committed to sharing resources that help #buststigma around mental health issues. On social media, we find that it’s especially useful to follow, support, and join the conversation with accounts that share our mission. Today our mental health resource round-up is focused on schizophrenia Twitter accounts that serve our community through education, empowerment, and meaningful engagement. Be sure to connect with us on @OC87RD and comment on this post with any other schizophrenia Twitter accounts that you follow.
Schizophrenia.com
@SchizCom
This Twitter feed comes from the folks behind schizophrenia.com and is filled with relevant retweets from science, news, pop culture, and personal accounts related to the diagnosis of schizophrenia. Statistics, well-researched links, and a laser focus on schizophrenia topics makes this account a must follow if you want to stay informed about new developments with this diagnosis. Here’s the mission statement from their website:
Started in 1995, the website is an internet community dedicated to providing high quality information, support and education to the family members, caregivers and individuals whose lives have been impacted by schizophrenia. This web community was founded in memory of John Chiko, who suffered from schizophrenia. We are dedicated to improving the lives of all individuals and families suffering from schizophrenia, and in speeding the research progress towards a cure.
Rebecca Chamaa
@wr8ter
An accomplished writer who has been published on OC87 Recovery Diaries in addition to Psych Central, The Mighty, and Good Housekeeping, Rebecca’s mental health essays are personal, accessible, and powerful. Her feed on Twitter updates followers on her most recent posts across the internet in addition to retweets from other writers who share about their individual experiences living with schizophrenia.
In her moving essay from OC87 Recovery Diaries, Rebecca says:
No one with a psychiatric diagnosis can be completely defined by that diagnosis. That is one reason I prefer to be called a person living with schizophrenia, not a schizophrenic. We are all complex people and some of us happen to have an illness, but those of us with an illness are not the illness itself.
For me, it is important to keep my existing relationships, have hobbies and interests, and be active with things that both have to do with schizophrenia and don’t have to do with schizophrenia. For instance, I consider myself an activist in the mental illness, dis/ability, and feminist circles.
Read Rebecca Chamaa’s story on OC87 Recovery Diaries called “I Have Schizophrenia” >>
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SARDAA
@sardaa_org
The Schizophrenia and Related Disorders Alliance of America (SARDAA) Twitter account is centered on science developments and schizophrenia-related current events. Putting out tweets most days, and sometimes a few times a day, this feed shares medical articles, upcoming political actions that connect with schizophrenia, and initiatives in the general media that are aimed to reduce stigma around this diagnosis. Founded in 2008:
SARDAA promotes improvement in lives affected by schizophrenia-related brain illnesses (mental illnesses involving psychosis). SARDAA promotes hope and recovery through support programs, education, collaboration, and advocacy.
Schizophrenia Canada
@SchizophreniaCa
This schizophrenia Twitter feed is a great resource for family members and friends of folks who live with this diagnosis. Featuring links to personal stories from other websites, motivational memes, and current events about schizophrenia, this account is filled with empathy, education, and inspiration. Since the feed comes from a Canadian organization, they offer a unique perspective on schizophrenia for USA or internationally-based readers.
Since 1979, Schizophrenia Canada has worked with:
10 provincial societies to help individuals with schizophrenia and their families have a better quality of life while we search for a cure. At SSC we are committed to: Raising awareness and educating the public to help reduce mental disorders stigma and discrimination, supporting families and individuals, advocating for legislative change and improved schizophrenia treatment and mental health services, and supporting research through the SSC Foundation and other independent efforts.
SchizophrenicNYC
@SchizophrenicNY
Schizophrenic.NYC is a fashion company on a mission: to end homelessness for those suffering with schizophrenia in New York City. As such, their Twitter feed shares pop-up shop information, artwork from founder Michelle Hammer, and motivational infographics that seek to bust stigma around the diagnosis of schizophrenia. If you share a photo of yourself wearing Schizophrenic.NYC apparel, keep your eyes peeled for a prompt and celebratory retweet on their feed.
Schizophrenic.NYC was created to make a difference in the way the mentally ill homeless are treated in NYC as well as change the way New Yorkers feel about mental illness. The concept behind the designs is that when the unmedicated person with Schizophrenia looks at a basic regular Rorschach test they see it with a whole different perspective. By redesigning the test with new colors and patterns, now everyone looks at the test with a whole new perspective.
Want more? Check out all of our posts on the topic of schizophrenia >>
