Schizophrenia facts and figures

• Schizophrenia is a severe, chronic (long-term) brain disorder which interferes with a person’s ability to think clearly, separate fantasy from reality, manage emotions, make decisions and relate to other people.
  
  
• Schizophrenia is the most common form of severe mental illness.
  
  
• Schizophrenia affects 1% of the world's population at some point in their lives.
  
  
• Most people with schizophrenia begin to experience symptoms between the ages of 15-35 years.
  
  
• Schizophrenia affects men and women equally but onset tends to be later in women.