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Rewriting the Narrative: Schizophrenia and Psychosis Awareness Day 

May 8, 2025

May 24 marks Schizophrenia and Psychosis Awareness Day – an opportunity to break down stigma, foster understanding, and advocate for better support and access to early intervention care. 

Understanding the Difference: Psychosis vs. Schizophrenia 

Psychosis and schizophrenia are often confused, but they’re not the same. Psychosis is a symptom that can include hallucinations, delusions, or disorganized thinking. Schizophrenia is a mental illness that may involve psychosis, but also affects a person’s thoughts, emotions, and behaviour more broadly. 

While many people with schizophrenia experience psychosis, not everyone who experiences psychosis has schizophrenia. 

To help clarify the distinction, think of psychosis like a fever.  

A fever can be a sign of many different illnesses — like the flu, COVID-19, or an infection. But having a fever does not tell you exactly what is causing it. In the same way, psychosis can occur in a range of conditions, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, severe depression, trauma, sleep deprivation, or substance use. 

The Human Side of Psychosis

Psychosis is often portrayed in ways that are frightening, inaccurate, or incomplete — but behind every diagnosis is a person navigating their own reality and challenges. Jennifer, a Nova Scotian artist and advocate, lives with schizoaffective disorder – bipolar type. In her words, psychosis is “like walking through life with a broken compass.”

She shares:

“My diagnosis includes the word “schizo,” and that alone scares people. But I am not a monster. I’m someone living with a complex mental illness who wants the same things everyone else does connection, stability, purpose. We need to stop defining people by their most unstable moments. We are more than our crises.”

Read Jennifer’s Story: Between Worlds: A Journey Through Psychosis, Depression, and Recovery

Challenging the Myths 

The word psychosis is often surrounded by fear and misunderstanding. But the truth is: psychosis is treatable, and many people living with it go on to lead full, meaningful lives.

Let’s separate fact from fiction and break down four common myths:

Myth: Psychosis means someone has schizophrenia.
Fact: Psychosis is a symptom, not a diagnosis. It can occur in many conditions — including schizophrenia, but also bipolar disorder, severe depression, trauma, and substance use. Just like a fever, psychosis can have many causes.

Myth: People experiencing psychosis are violent or dangerous.
Fact: Most people living with psychosis are not violent. In fact, they are more likely to be victims of violence than perpetrators. This myth is rooted in stigma, not reality.

Myth: Psychosis is permanent and untreatable.
Fact: Psychosis is treatable — especially when caught early. With the right supports like therapy, medication, and peer connection, many people recover or manage their symptoms well.

Myth: You can always tell when someone is experiencing psychosis.
Fact: Psychosis looks different for everyone. Some symptoms, like delusions or disorganized thinking, may not be obvious. Many people appear calm or functional on the outside, even while struggling internally.

Why Awareness Matters

Awareness is the first step toward change. When we understand what psychosis really is — and what it isn’t — we begin to replace fear with empathy, silence with support, and stigma with action.

Early intervention can change the course of a person’s life, but that starts with recognizing the signs and knowing where to turn. By raising awareness, we empower individuals, families, and communities to act sooner, support better, and advocate louder.

Because everyone deserves the chance to heal, to be heard, and to thrive.

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