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Only 26 percent. Poles accept the possibility that their close neighbor is a person diagnosed with schizophrenia, and a friend with such a diagnosis would be accepted by 30 percent. of us. The results of the nationwide survey are not optimistic.
What’s more, only 17 percent would choose to work with a person suffering from schizophrenia. What does the public opinion poll “Attitude of Poles towards people suffering from schizophrenia” say about Poles? We are afraid of people with schizophrenia (24%), we believe that people with this disease pose a threat to the environment (22%), sometimes we even say that they should be excluded from “normal life” (9%). Paradoxically, however, we know that with proper treatment, patients can still be professionally and socially active. Poles’ attitudes towards people suffering from schizophrenia were investigated by the ARC Rynek i Opinia institute as part of the educational campaign “Life without relapses”. The content partner of the study is the Polish Psychiatric Association.
“They wouldn’t even notice if I died.” My daughter has schizophrenia
They can lead a normal life, but… away from me
In Poland, 385 people suffer from schizophrenia – 1 percent. society. Most Poles (59%) realize that with proper treatment, patients with schizophrenia can lead a life like healthy people – be professionally and socially active. It may come as a surprise that 9% believe that they should be excluded from “normal life”. The data is even more alarming when it comes to close relationships. Only 17 percent. Poles could have a schizophrenic person as a co-worker or work with them in one company, 26% have a close neighbor, and 30% for a friend. Only 13 percent. Poles would not mind for a person suffering from schizophrenia to become the spouse of someone from their immediate family.
– Schizophrenia is a chronic disease – such as high blood pressure or diabetes, which must be treated throughout life. While it seems that we have tamed mental illness as such in recent years, some, such as precisely schizophrenia, are still stigmatizing. In the case of people with schizophrenia, as in many other difficult issues, it is characteristic that we say: of course, patients can lead a normal life, live like us, study, work, but … not in my close environment. They can have families – but I don’t want them to be part of mine. Unfortunately, despite the fact that we are in the XNUMXst century, there are still extreme views that people with schizophrenia should be excluded from normal life, comments Dr. Sławomir Murawiec, Polish Psychiatric Association.
Could I be a “silent patient”?
Behind each person suffering from schizophrenia, there are on average 10 people from their immediate vicinity. 81 percent patients live with their caregiver (usually one of the parents or a spouse / partner), who allocates an average of 34 hours a week to care for the patient. 58 percent Poles are aware that the family of a person suffering from schizophrenia is involved in treatment. However, only 29 percent. Poles would be able to quit their job to look after a loved one struggling with this disease. – Schizophrenia does not only affect you but the whole family. The main responsibility of the caregiver, often referred to as the silent patient, is to monitor treatment and adhere to medical recommendations. Simply put – checking whether the patient has taken medication today. It is often associated with the obligation to give up one’s own professional work. However, only 1/3 of Poles declare such a possibility. Therefore, replacing tablets taken every day with long-acting drugs is not only a chance for patients to live a relapse-free life, but also a huge relief for caregivers – says Prof. Agata Szulc, President of the Main Board of the Polish Psychiatric Association.
The cooperation between the patient and the doctor is crucial
Long-acting treatments (LATs) have changed the paradigm of treating schizophrenia. In Poland, medications taken once a month are available, in the world a medication taken once every three months is already widely used. Patients’ non-compliance with medical recommendations is a common phenomenon – according to the estimates of 50%. patients do not take medication as prescribed. In the case of mental illness, this has serious consequences. Compliance is the most important issue in the treatment of schizophrenia and the basic condition for achieving treatment benefits. – Unfortunately, patients struggling with schizophrenia often forget to take tablets every day or, seeing an improvement in themselves, stop taking them. This, in turn, may cause the disease to come back. Fortunately, modern medicine has excellent drugs for these patients – long-acting drugs. They ensure a stable level of the active substance in the body, thanks to which the patient can function very well even in periods of remission – learn, work, function in the family. Live like healthy people – says prof. Agata Szulc.
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The attitude of Poles towards people suffering from schizophrenia ”was researched by the ARC Rynek i Opinia institute. The group of Poles represented (women and men aged 16 to 65) participated in the study. The study is part of the information and education campaign “Life without relapses”.
The information and educational campaign “Life without relapses” aims to build awareness around the issue of schizophrenia, the situation of patients and their carers, and the socio-economic consequences of the disease. It is also a contribution to the discussion on the directions of changes in the care of people suffering from schizophrenia in Poland. The campaign was carried out with the support of Janssen-Cilag Polska.