From the Schizophrenia Society of Alberta:

Schizophrenia is an illness that affects the brain and behaviour. People with schizophrenia can have trouble telling reality from fantasy, expressing and managing emotions and making decisions.

While there is no cure, schizophrenia can be managed. Doctors may try different antipsychotic medications to treat symptoms in addition to therapy and other support.

Often times, compliance with medications can be difficult because of strong side effects. For some patients, once the medication starts working, they may feel they no longer need it and go off their medication.

Like many diseases, schizophrenia affects not only the patient, but their families.

One in 100 people are affected by schizophrenia, with more than 34,000 Albertans affected by the disease.

People with schizophrenia are more likely to harm themselves than another person.

Supportive housing and programs cost one-quarter of what a day in hospital does.

Schizophrenia is treatable and 70 per cent of people with schizophrenia have positive outcomes with treatment.

Up to 80 per cent of people with schizophrenia abuse substances in their lifetime.

One in 10 people with schizophrenia dies by suicide in the first 10 years of the illness.

Schizophrenia usually presents in late teens and early adults and is equally likely in men and women.

Up to 96 per cent of people with schizophrenia experience discrimination.

The cause is not known although it is believed genetics are involved.

A common misconception is that schizophrenia is the same thing as multiple personality disorder.

Popular culture often incorrectly portrays schizophrenia as being interchangeable with dissociative identity (previously known as multiple personality disorder or split personality disorder).