This program is being primarily targeted at high school students as schizophrenia typically strikes persons between the ages of 14 and 30. The best results in the treatment of schizophrenia come with early assessment, diagnosis, and treatment. Current research is enabling mental health professionals to make these assessments earlier and to prescribe newer medications which are more precise in addressing the symptoms of schizophrenia and have less side effects than the older medications. It is very important that students in this same age category as well as adults are forewarned of the risk of experimenting with alcohol and street drugs and their potential in triggering the onset of schizophrenia if one is genetically or otherwise predisposed to it! Although schizophrenia is not caused by abuse of alcohol and/or use of street drugs, they both can trigger and worsen the symptoms in persons predisposed to this complex illness.
Who Stands to Benefit from the Partnership Program?

• Young people who are most predisposed to this illness.
• Community agencies, service providers and health care providers through in-service training.
• People who may experience mental illness themselves or in their families and/or friends.
• RCMP Recruits, City and Municipal Police
• School/Teachers/Counsellors
• University Students and Teachers
• SIAST Nursing Students
• Church Ministry and Groups
• Justice System including jails
• Mental Health Professionals
• General Public