By Lethbridge Herald on May 23, 2026.

Herald photo by Joe Manio
Participants in FridayÕs Strides of Hope Walk set out from the parking lot of The Keg in Lethbridge to raise awareness and help break the stigma surrounding schizophrenia and psychosis ahead of World Schizophrenia Day.

By Joe Manio

Lethbridge Herald

For many people living with schizophrenia, the loudest voices are not the symptoms themselves, but the stigma that follows them into workplaces, schools, friendships and everyday life.

On Friday afternoon, more than 20 people gathered in the parking lot of The Keg Steakhouse + Bar to take part in the Lethbridge Strides of Hope Walk ahead of World Schizophrenia Day on Sunday. 

Wearing purple and carrying messages of support, participants set out to “stamp out stigma” surrounding one of the world’s most misunderstood mental illnesses.

Organized by the Schizophrenia Society of Alberta, the annual walk is part of a provincewide awareness campaign held in six Alberta communities, including Calgary, Edmonton, Medicine Hat and Red Deer.

The event drew local advocates, families, supporters, MLA Rob Miyashiro and Mark Campbell, who said the issue is deeply personal for him.

“Schizophrenia is very personal to me as well,” Campbell told the crowd before the walk began. “We do need to rethink, respect and reject stigma.”

Campbell later shared his daughter was diagnosed with schizophrenia several years ago after beginning to hear voices telling her to harm herself.

“She’s one of these people where you’d never know she had schizophrenia,” he said. “Organizations like this do such a great job of figuring out ways they can treat their condition and be supportive so they can live a normal life.”

According to organizers, one in 100 people worldwide lives with schizophrenia—roughly the same prevalence as Type 1 diabetes. In Alberta alone, about 49,000 people are affected.

Clinically, schizophrenia is a chronic mental illness that can affect a person’s perception of reality, often involving hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking and difficulty processing emotions or social interactions. 

Symptoms commonly emerge in late adolescence or early adulthood and can vary widely from person to person.

But advocates say public perception has long been shaped by fear, sensationalized media portrayals and misconceptions linking schizophrenia with violence.

“Violence is not a symptom of schizophrenia,” said Kimberly Shenton, Lethbridge coordinator with the Schizophrenia Society of Alberta. “We really like to break the stigma around that.”

Shenton said awareness events such as the Strides of Hope Walk are designed not only to educate the public, but also to remind people living with schizophrenia and psychosis that they are not alone.

“It’s truly heartwarming to see so many people gathered here today showing support for individuals affected by schizophrenia,” she told participants before the walk. “Together, we can break down stigma and foster a more inclusive and understanding society.”

The Schizophrenia Society of Alberta has operated in the province for approximately 45 years, offering education, peer support, housing assistance and employment programs for Albertans living with schizophrenia and psychosis.

Shenton said the organization currently supports more than 200 individuals through employment initiatives and also operates supportive housing programs in Edmonton and Red Deer. Services are available in Lethbridge and Medicine Hat as well.

The annual walk coincides with World Schizophrenia Day, observed internationally on May 24. Participants were encouraged to wear purple and share photos online using the hashtags #WorldSchizophreniaDay and #SSAStridesofHope.

While the event itself lasted only about an hour, organizers said the larger goal is continuing year-round conversations about mental health and reducing barriers faced by people living with schizophrenia.

Campbell said community support and public understanding can make an enormous difference for families navigating a diagnosis.

“It’s just a good feeling,” he said while preparing to join the walk. “We’ve got a lot of organizations in this city. This is what a community is all about — when we get together and support each other.”

As participants circled through the area Friday afternoon beneath clearing skies, the message behind each step remained simple: the road toward understanding starts by walking beside people instead of judging them from a distance.

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