During the pandemic, my youngest brother was diagnosed with schizophrenia. We first noticed something was wrong when he started behaving strangely. One thing we noticed is he would hide in his closet, staring at the wall, and not responding when we called him. I believe he was contemplating something, perhaps very dark thoughts. I know he was and still is in immense emotional pain, which only worsened once the diagnosis was added to his medical record. Schizophrenia often carries a heavy stigma, making it difficult for people to find social groups, employment or housing.
Despite these challenges, Andrew landed a job at a start-up that produced cannabis-infused water capsules. He quickly be...