Press Release News Statement Issued on: 14 August 2000 For immediate release Issued by: Susan Kirkwood, Chairman, National Schizophrenia Fellowship (Scotland) Mental illness is no laughing matter Using terms such as schizophrenia and schizo to play on public ignorance for laughs is unacceptable in Scotland and the UK today. Susan Kirkwood, Chairman, National Schizophrenia Fellowship (Scotland) said: "we deplore the creation of the film "Me, Myself, Irene" and we deplore the decision of the British Board of Film Classification Censors to allow the film a 15 certificate. "We echo the concerns expressed by the National Schizophrenia Fellowship: First, terms for very different severe medical conditions are used indiscriminately and inconsistently. The film plays on this public ignorance for laughs. Second, its target audience is the 15-34 age group, the very group most at risk from a first episode of schizophrenia. The average time between the first signs of schizophrenia and medical intervention is 18 months. Reducing this damaging delay needs people to become more aware of their mental health and to be prepared to seek early advice. This film will not help. Third, the film makes a casual and causal link between severe mental illness and violence. It is a media truism that schizophrenia equals violence. This is simply wrong. More than 20,000 people in Scotland have a severe mental illness. Around half of these will attempt suicide. Only a tiny number will be involved in any violent act." (ends "Me, myself, Irene" is released in Britain on 22 September 2000 For further information, email: [email protected].