We believe that Russell Weston s family did the very best they could. It is important to remember that schizophrenia is a chronic and disabling brain disorder that affects approximately two million Americans each year. It impairs an individual s ability to think clearly, manage his or her emotions, make decisions, and relate to others even family members. Great progress has been made in understanding, diagnosing, and treating this crippling brain disorder. We now know that people with schizophrenia do best when they receive a combination of medication and intensive, ongoing community support.
Recovery is, for the first time, a real possibility for many individuals with schizophrenia.
However, we also know that science has advanced much faster than the availability of services. Russell Weston s story is really the tragic story of schizophrenia in this country. For Russell Weston and thousands like him, recovery is never fully within their grasp because the care they need is simply not available. In fact, a recent national study documented that fewer than 50 percent of individuals with schizophrenia are receiving the care that science has proven to work. It s a travesty that these elements are rarely available to those who so clearly need them.