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The Wizard of Hope

© Ian Chovil

The Wizard of Hope was the creation of a family member here in Guelph. Actually she lives in the country outside of town. Her son is having a very difficult time with schizophrenia. Actually it's probably more difficult for her. She helps him with the court cases, moving him again and again as he is evicted again and again. If there is one thing that will help young people diagnosed with schizophrenia it is avoiding substance abuse. Young adults with a taste for alcohol or marijuana don't get better, they get into trouble, over and over again. It is surprising that they never learn, but I guess their perspective is so narrow.

Amidst the troubles she is having with her son, Chris realized that the future is very promising for people with schizophrenia. She realized this contrasted markedly with the educational literature and fund raising programs which painted schizophrenia in very dark and gloomy colours. Janssen Ortho, which markets Risperidone, the most commonly prescribed antipsychotic used in treating people diagnosed with schizophrenia, generously developed an educational booklet on schizophrenia for the public. Pharmaceutical companies often do this while they have protected rights to a particular medication. This particular booklet had a skull outlined by barbwire on the cover, a very striking image, but a reflection of a very destructive schizophrenia.

Chris thought it was time for a change. She saw how the new atypical antipsychotics brought new hope to family members. They were excited by the improvements in their relatives on the atypicals, and even though Chris has trouble convincing her son to stay on medication, she saw the son she once knew when he did take them. She also knew that the general public would never rally to support a hopeless disease, particularly one for which there was no cure. The Schizophrenia Society of Ontario has some 34 chapters across Ontario, and one in Guelph. Chris suggested changing the theme of our fund raising walk to make the event more of a celebration. She thought the Wizard of Oz had universal elements appropriate to people's attitudes to schizophrenia and she thought a Wizard of Hope was a more inspirational image. He/she is a messenger bearing good news about research and new medications that promise to make schizophrenia a far less destructive disease.

The Wizard of Hope debuted in Guelph one cold October day almost three years ago. The CEO of the Homewood was dressed as the Tin Man, a student placement played a classic Dorothy. The lion was bashful, and the scarecrow was witty. Over 250 people went on the walk and raised $20,000. Compare that to the previous year which had 35 walkers and raised a fraction of that. And it was fun. There was a carnival atmosphere in spite of the cold. Most people was there because their life had been touched by schizophrenia.

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