What is Psychosis and Schizophrenia?
Understanding psychosis and schizophrenia can help you recognize when someone may need support.
Psychosis can affect how a person thinks, perceives the world, and understands what is real. It can involve hallucinations, unusual beliefs, or difficulty thinking clearly. Psychosis can have many causes, and treatment and support are available.
Schizophrenia is a psychotic disorder that can affect a person’s thoughts, feelings, perceptions, and behaviour. It usually begins between the late teens and early 30s—typically in the mid-20s for men and the late 20s for women. It affects 1 in 300 people worldwide, and about 40% of individuals don’t realize they have it.
Psychosis and schizophrenia can also affect family members, friends, and caregivers. Knowing the signs and understanding what someone may be experiencing can make it easier to respond with compassion and find support.
Learn about the signs, symptoms, and how to get help.
Programs & Services
You don’t have to navigate schizophrenia or psychosis alone. We offer peer support, education, and practical resources for people living with mental illness, as well as their families and friends.
From family support groups and peer support to hospital-based programs and medication information, our services are designed to help people feel informed, connected, and supported.
Explore our Programs & Services to find out what’s available and how to connect.
Schizophrenia Journey: Beyond the Diagnosis
Schizophrenia Journey: Beyond the Diagnosis is an ongoing multimedia project exploring experiences and attitudes surrounding schizophrenia and psychosis in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Share Your Story
We are currently collecting stories from people with lived experience of schizophrenia or psychosis, as well as from family members and friends.
Your experience can help us better understand the realities of living with schizophrenia and psychosis and contribute to a broader conversation about understanding, awareness, and reducing stigma.
If you would like to share your story, we’d love to hear from you.
Please contact Susan:
Phone: 709-777-3335
Email: SSNL@nlhealthservices.ca
Land Acknowledgement
We acknowledge and respect that our organization is located on the ancestral homelands of the Beothuk, unceded traditional territory of the Beothuk and the Mi'kmaq as well as the traditional ancestral homelands of the Innu and Inuit. SSNL recognizes that colonialism and institutional racism continue to have devastating effects on the Indigenous communities and we are committed to working in a spirt of truth and reconciliation to make a better future for all.