May 23, 2025 Together with Patients

【May 24 is World Schizophrenia Day】

May 24 is World Schizophrenia Day.

Schizophrenia is a brain disorder that makes it difficult to organize the way one feels, thinks, and behaves. Approximately one in every 100 people may experience schizophrenia, and it often begins during adolescence and early adulthood. Although the exact cause is not fully understood, it is thought to involve a complex interplay of various brain functions.

World Schizophrenia Day is held annually on May 24 with the aim of eliminating stigma by promoting accurate understanding of schizophrenia. The day is intended to help create a society where people with schizophrenia and their families can live with peace of mind.

World Schizophrenia Day is said to have originated in 1998, initiated by the National Schizophrenia Foundation in the United States. The date, May 24, was chosen to commemorate the day in the 18th century when French physician Philippe Pinel is believed to have unchained people who had been confined in psychiatric hospitals.

In recent years, advances in treatments such as medication have made it possible for people with schizophrenia to gradually recover with appropriate care. However, due to the lack of widespread accurate understanding of schizophrenia and other mental illnesses, stigma still persists. People often associate them with negative images such as "I don't know what they're thinking" or "they're scary. "

Sumitomo Pharma has the website "Kokoro Share" (（https://kokoro-share.jp）, available in Japanese only) with the aim of eliminating stigma against mental illnesses, supporting the recovery, social participation, and employment of patients with schizophrenia, and contributing to the early and appropriate diagnosis and treatment of bipolar disorder. We aim to provide clear and accurate information about schizophrenia and to support the lives of people living with the condition and their families.

In this way, we encourage each of our employees to thoroughly consider what they can do and what actions they can take from the perspective of one of our Value, "Patient First." Through such endeavors, we aim to contribute to realizing the betterment of healthcare and fuller lives of patients worldwide.