How Taye Diggs Is Lifting Up the Schizophrenia Community

When TV, film, and Broadway actor Taye Diggs first learned that his sister Christian had been diagnosed with schizophrenia as a young adult, one of his biggest hurdles to understanding her condition is something many of us face. He had to overcome the common myths and misconceptions around schizophrenia that are perpetuated by inaccurate media portrayals like in the films Me, Myself & Irene and Donnie Darko.

“For me, schizophrenia was just what was portrayed in movies and on TV,” Diggs says.

Schizophrenia affects over 21 million people worldwide, making it far less prevalent than conditions like depression and anxiety. With less real-life exposure to individuals living with the condition, many people are stuck with the wrong ideas; for example, that all people with schizophrenia are violent, that they have multiple personalities, or that they can’t function in society.

That’s a big part of why Diggs is using his platform to advocate for schizophrenia awareness. Partnering with Bristol Myers Squibb, Taye and Christian have spearheaded the Live Your PosSCZible campaign since May 2024 to help elevatre the voices of those living with schizophrenia.

Showcasing the Schizophrenia Community

This year, in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month and World Schizophrenia Day, Diggs and his sister hosted a talent showcase on May 17th in Los Angeles to help celebrate the schizophrenia community.

Diggs says he feels blessed to be a part of it. “I was taken on an emotional ride,” he says. “I just had no idea how talented these people would be.”

Diggs stresses that community and understanding are at the heart of Live Your PosSCZible. “When they were on that stage, they weren’t people with a disorder, they were just wonderful performers. It’s important not to pigeonhole folks. These are artists that just happen to be living with things that can be a little more difficult to deal with.”

What It Takes to Show Up for Loved Ones

Schizophrenia is treatable but not curable, and is often marked by symptoms like hallucinations, delusions, and a variety of emotional and cognitive issues that can make it difficult to function if left untreated. That’s why a great support system of both loved ones and a healthcare team are essential, which Diggs has seen firsthand as a care partner.

“It behooves you to be in the moment and to connect with your loved one or whoever in your circle is in this situation,” he says. “Throw away any idea of what you think it is, because you won’t know until you’re actually in it.”

He says one of the best things he did for his sister was simply to research and learn as much as he could, to move forward in understanding rather than ignorance. His experience shows how difficult it can be to navigate a loved one’s diagnosis.

“Right after her diagnosis, I was scared,” he says.

There’s no set blueprint for dealing with a mental health diagnosis, whether it is your own or someone you care about, but Diggs sets an example for how you can work through even the most complicated feelings.

“I didn’t know how I would act. I didn’t know how I would feel. I didn’t want people to judge her,” he says. “All of these very natural, very human feelings. But the more you learn, the better you get at being there in whatever way they need.”

A Diagnosis Is Just the Beginning

While receiving a schizophrenia diagnosis can be scary, it’s also one of the first steps on the path toward finding the right treatment plan, and for caregivers to figure out the best ways to show up for their loved ones. Diggs recognizes that it’s all part of the process. For those caring for someone with schizophrenia, he says it’s important to embrace the journey and resist the urge to ‘solve’ your loved one’s condition.

“Playing the game is winning the game,” he says. “It’s all about just being there. I think that’s a great way to get through life.”

Based on his experience, Diggs’s message to others in the schizophrenia community is to not be afraid. “You don’t have to sit on the sidelines. You can get in there and experience the range of emotions and highs and lows and middles,” he says. “That’s the greatest thing I’ve learned and that I’m excited for other people to learn as well.”

“Life doesn’t have to stop,” he says. “Everything can keep moving. You have to move a little differently, but opening yourself up to it is the most positive thing you can do.”