Schizophrenia is a long-term mental health condition. It causes a range of different psychological symptoms. Doctors often describe schizophrenia as a type of psychosis. This means the person may not always be able to distinguish their own thoughts and ideas from reality.

Symptoms of schizophrenia can include:

• hallucinations – hearing or seeing things that do not exist outside of the mind

• delusions – unusual beliefs not based on reality muddled thoughts and speech based on hallucinations or delusions

• osing interest in everyday activities

• not wanting to look after yourself and your needs, such as not caring about your personal hygiene