Jargon Buster S

| Schizophrenia | Schizophrenia is a term used to describe a complex illness, which affects a person’s ability to separate real and unreal experiences. It is most common in people between the ages of 15 and 25 but it can also start later in life. Some people have just one experience of schizophrenia (or episode), while others have a longer lasting illness. People with a diagnosis of schizophrenia usually experience delusions (false beliefs) hallucinations (hearing voices or seeing things) and/or thought disorder (thoughts become jumbled up); feelings of paranoia are also common. |
| Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD | Seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, is a form of depression some people get consistently during autumn and winter seasons, where there is less daylight. People often wan to sleep for long periods when they have seasonal affective disorder. See also depression. |
| Self Harm | Self harm is the term used to describe someone who deliberately harms him/herself. Self harm is often how people deal with very strong emotions and feelings of distress. Women most at risk are those 15 to 19 years old and men, 20 to 24 years old and it is more common in women. |
| Self Help | It takes courage to speak out, especially if you are experiencing a mental health problem. Some people find it useful talking to family and friend, or may also think about an independent organization. There are many organizations that offer a range of information and advice as well as treatments and therapies, in the statutory, voluntary and independent sectors. |
| Social Workers | Social workers are part of a team of mental health professionals and, like CPN’s; they also have specialist knowledge about mental illness. They do not administer medication. They act as Care Co-coordinators to those who need ongoing support with their mental health difficulty, particularly in relation to their social needs. If they are your Care Coordinator, they will co-ordinate the services that you receive and be involved in reviewing your 'care' through the Care Programme Approach (CPA). This ensures that you receive the support that is most helpful to you. Social workers are usually based at the Community Mental Health Centre |
| Suicide | About one percent of deaths in the UK are suicides. Evidence strongly suggests that people are at greater risk of taking their own life if they have been diagnosed with clinical depression or schizophrenia, abuse alcohol or drugs, or have experienced particularly stressful and distressing events such as unemployment, family break up or they suffer from a long term physical illness. |



