Schizophrenia is one of the most debilitating mental disorders that affect thousands of people worldwide every year. It is a mental disorder that is highlighted by abnormalities in the perception or expression of reality. The different types of distortions often attack all of the five senses. It most often is developed in early adulthood, which is when an estimated 40% of men and 25% of women begin to show symptoms. A stigma is associated with this psychiatric illness that hurts how those people live their lives. Many people believe that schizophrenics are violent and are a danger to society, when in fact many of them are not and have their symptoms under control. One tragic fact is that schizophrenics have a higher level of suicides than everyone else; due to the fact their delusions cloud their minds. Below is a list of famous people schizophrenia or those that had it during their life time:

1)      John Nash – He is probably one of the most famous people afflicted with this illness. His battle with schizophrenia is chronicled in the book “A Beautiful Mind,” which was later made into an Oscar winning movie. He later worked at PrincetonUniversity and won the 1994 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences.

2)      Syd Barrett- He was a British songwriter and guitarist famous for being apart of the band Pink Floyd.

3)      Lionel Aldridge- He was an athlete and played the defensive end position in the 1960’s on the Green Bay Packers. Aldridge was not diagnosed until later in his life and sought treatment.

4)      Mary Todd Lincoln- was the First Lady of the United States during the Civil War and battled the illness following the deaths of her children.

5)      Meera Popkin- was a star on Broadway of both “Cats” and “Miss Saigon.” She battled the illness and is now in retirement.

 These individuals battled this devastating mental illness. Whether they overcame it or failed to do so, their struggle should serve as either an inspiration or a guide to those with schizophrenia and their loved ones. It is important to remember that many people are often not diagnosed with schizophrenia or misdiagnosed. There could very well be many more people we look at as talents that could have waged this battle in private. Famous people with schizophrenia might also opt to keep their diagnosis secret because of the negative stereotype associated with it. In the future, it would be a noble gesture to admit if they suffer from this psychiatric disease to dispel the false rumors that circulate about people with schizophrenia.