Schizophrenia: A silent mental disorder ignored, misunderstood by society

A young woman with nervous breakdown expressions on background. [Courtesy/iStock]

Schizophrenia is one of the most misunderstood mental health disorders in our communities. Often dismissed as witchcraft or demonic possession, the condition silently affects hundreds of thousands of people in Kenya.

According to the World Health Organisation, schizophrenia is characterised by distortions in thinking, perception, emotions, language, sense of self, and behaviour. Common experiences include hallucinations (hearing voices or seeing things that are not there) and delusions (false beliefs).