When my sister became ill with schizophrenia almost thirty years ago, we had little information about her illness and little optimism about her future. Thank goodness, things have changed a lot in thirty years.

A new survey by EUFAMI (the European Federation of Associations of Families of People with Mental Illness) shows that 77% of European caregivers now believe that remission is a realistic and achievable goal for a person with schizophrenia. In remission, a patient would be able to re-integrate into family and workplace life with few symptoms. This survey suggests a welcome turnaround in perceptions of schizophrenia, as well as growing confidence in the effectiveness of modern treatments.

Caregivers in the survey did express frustration that health care professionals aren’t consistently diagnosing early enough or suggesting the latest treatments to maximize a loved ones chance for remission. The good news is that a growing number of caregivers are armed with the knowledge and confidence to push for the earliest and best care possible. For more information, you can view the final report of the EUFAMI Remission Survey