Hearing voices and other sensory experiences carry stigma. This creates shame, isolation and lack of information. 

• According to CAMH, psychosis is used to describe conditions that affect the mind, in which people have trouble distinguishing between what is real and what is not. One in one hundred people will experience an episode of psychosis. Psychosis usually first appears in a person's late teens or early twenties. 

• Several mental illnesses can include psychosis as a symptom. 

• The Hearing Voices Network was founded in 1987 in the Netherlands to raise awareness and create spaces to talk openly about voice-hearing, visions and similar sensory experiences.

• “A growing body of testimonial, clinical and research evidence shows that hearing voices is a diverse experience that is not necessarily linked to illness. In fact, the majority of people who hear voices are not diagnosed with any illness at all. Some find voices and visions an important part of their life.” 

• Watch Eleanor’s personal journey. The site offers a wealth of information, videos and personal stories. 

References: 

https://www.camh.ca/en/health-info/mental-illness-and-addiction-index/psychosis 

https://www.hearing-voices.org/resources/films-radio

Please email us at accessible-learning@humber.ca with suggestions for key accessibility-related topics that you would like us to address through the Communiqué.