Journey of Hope and Recovery with Schizophrenia with Guest Bill MacPhee, Founder and CEO of Magpie Media, Inc.

Summary: Five years after a blossoming career as a commercial deep sea diver in Singapore, Bill MacPhee found himself pacing a psychiatric ward, trapped in a world of illusions, delusions, paranoia and depression. He was 24 years old and diagnosed with schizophrenia. With the help of family, friends, medication and therapy, he began to embrace life again and took an interest in volunteer work and local politics. In 1994 he launched Magpie Media, Inc. and published the first Canadian issue of SZ Magazine to bring hope and information to people affected by schizophrenia. MacPhee will discuss living an active and successful life after a diagnoses of schizophrenia; the role of medication, therapy, family and friends during recovery; why schizophrenia has nothing to do with “split” or “multiple” personalities; “positive” and “negative” symptoms of schizophrenia; and causes, treatment and long-term prognoses of schizophrenia. For more information about schizophrenia, visit www.stopthestigma.ca