Quesnel’s Fraser River Foot Bridge to be lit purple supporting Schizophrenia Awareness

Quesnel’s Fraser River Foot Bridge along with Prince George City Hall, Kopar Memorial Arena and, will be illuminated in purple today (Friday) in support of National Schizophrenia and Psychosis Awareness Day.

Roughly two out of every 100 people in Canada will experience schizophrenia in their lifetime.

In its Stand up to Stigma Campaign, Interior Regional Manager, Bonnie Spence-Vinge told MyCaribooNow.com it’s a condition that deserves a lot of attention.

“It is a serious illness and requires a lot of support and intervention. One of the aspects of schizophrenia is psychosis and that is one of the things we want people to understand is that psychosis is a very serious condition that affects people’s thinking, feelings and behaviours and it varies from person to person.”

She adds residents should look out for changes in behaviour, sleeping and, eating habits as signs someone may be struggling with this condition.

“If they have typically been a person that is very outgoing, laughing and easy-going and they start to withdraw and become angry, sad, disengaged – those kinds of changes that you would look at over a period of time in a variety of circumstances and environments that would lead people to be concerned that something is amiss.”

“We need to understand what is happening throughout the person – we need to engage with them as best as we can, determine what is happening and look at what kind of treatment options would be the best. Looking at medication is one of the main things we would be doing.”

Other landmarks in the province that are expected to be lit in purple include:

In the meantime, keep an eye out for these landmarks, and more that are lighting up in purple:

• Kelowna General Hospital (Kelowna, BC)

• Vernon Jubilee Hospital (Vernon, BC)

• East Kootenay Regional Hospital (East Kootenay, BC)

• BC Place (Vancouver, BC)

• Bloedel Conservatory (Vancouver, BC)

• New West City Hall (New Westminster, BC)

• Vancouver Convention Centre (Vancouver, BC)

• Vancouver City Hall and Burrard Street Bridge (Vancouver, BC)

• Surrey Civic Plaza (Surrey, BC)

• Science World (Vancouver, BC)

• White Rock Pier (White Rock, BC)

• BC Legislature (Victoria, BC)

• Royal British Columbia Museum (Victoria, BC)

• Victoria Street Bridge (Trail, BC)

• Columbia River Skywalk Bridge (Trail, BC)

• World’s Largest Hockey Stick (Duncan, BC)