Abstract:
Schizophrenia is a chronic illness that can negatively affect a person's social interactions and ability to interact with others. The study examined the effect of social support on the health of patients living with schizophrenia. Schizophrenic patients are expected to achieve remission as their final outcome, which entails enduring absence of symptoms of mental illness and adequate social abilities. The study aimed to find out social support for patients living schizophrenia who are in remission. This study used a descriptive research design and consisted of a sample of 261 schizophrenic outpatients at the State Hospital Ring Road, Ibadan, Nigeria. Three scales was used for the study. The first measured socio-demographic variables of the respondents, the second measured Social Support Scale, and the third scale measured Mental Health recovery. Social support variable for the study had an association with recovery from schizophrenia. The study shows that social support is important in the recovery of outpatients living with schizophrenia. Relatives can provide social support for outpatients living with schizophrenia. Mental health practitioners in Ibadan should consider these factors to improve the recovery of patients living with schizophrenia.
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