Getting diagnosed with schizophrenia can feel isolating, especially when it seems like no one understands what you’re going through. But you’re not alone. About 1 in every 222 adults worldwide is living with schizophrenia — more than 24 million people.

Even if you don’t know others with schizophrenia personally, you may be familiar with famous people who have the condition. Some you might meet through mental health awareness support groups, and others you’ll recognize from movies, television shows, concerts, and other creative outlets. Schizophrenia can affect anyone — regardless of success or fame.

Keep reading to find out about four well-known people who have been diagnosed with schizophrenia. Their stories show how complex mental health disorders can be and how those living with schizophrenia manage symptoms.

1. John Nash

John Nash, Jr. was a brilliant mathematician whose research surrounding game theory earned him the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in 1994. His life, marriage, and schizophrenia diagnosis were shown in the film “A Beautiful Mind,” starring Russell Crowe.

In a 1994 interview, Nash stated that after years of treatment, he’d gradually developed techniques for managing his schizophrenia.

The film “A Beautiful Mind” helped change how people view the word “schizophrenic.” It’s often misused to describe someone who acts unpredictably, but that isn’t an accurate definition. Schizophrenia is a serious mental illness with a wide range of symptoms.

Nash was diagnosed with schizophrenia in the late 1950s. His symptoms included delusions and hallucinations, and he often believed a secret government agency was recruiting him. Nash’s schizophrenia symptoms led to several years of erratic behavior, psychiatric hospitalizations, and difficulties in his personal and professional life. However, in the 1980s, Nash resumed academic work, and in a 1994 interview, he stated that after years of treatment, he’d gradually developed techniques for managing his schizophrenia.

“I began to intellectually reject some of the delusionally influenced lines of thinking,” Nash said. “At the present time, I seem to be thinking rationally again in the style that is characteristic of scientists.”

2. Jake Lloyd

Actor Jake Lloyd is best known for playing Anakin Skywalker in the film “Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace.” While Lloyd was in college, he began experiencing a range of symptoms, including believing he was being followed and hearing voices. Paranoia and delusions are common symptoms of schizophrenia.

Jake Lloyd initially found the news of his diagnosis to be challenging. This is very common — between 50 percent and 98 percent of people with schizophrenia experience denial about their diagnosis.

Lloyd was later diagnosed with schizophrenia — news that he initially found challenging. It took an 18-month period at a mental health facility, where he received specialized psychiatric care, to accept his diagnosis. This is very common for people with schizophrenia. Between 50 percent and 98 percent of those with schizophrenia experience denial about their diagnosis, which is called anosognosia.

He believes he needed to hit rock bottom, saying that’s how to “honestly take part in treatment, honestly take your meds, and honestly live with your diagnosis.”

3. Zelda Fitzgerald

Zelda Fitzgerald was an American writer, dancer, and socialite who gained notoriety throughout the 1920s. She’s best known as the wife of the famous novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald. But in recent years, she’s received renewed attention for her writing and her private and public mental health challenges.

Fitzgerald was diagnosed with schizophrenia in 1930 by Swiss psychiatrist Dr. Eugen Bleuler. He’s the doctor who first coined the term 10 years earlier. Throughout the 1930s, Fitzgerald was hospitalized numerous times for extreme mood swings, paranoia, and hallucinations. She spent the last years of her life in and out of psychiatric facilities, and many believe that her years spent in asylums severely affected her ability to pursue a career as a writer and artist.

Fitzgerald’s challenges have led to increased conversations about how treatment for women’s mental health differed from men’s. Her rights were largely overlooked, and she often wrote letters to her husband about how she felt like a prisoner instead of a human being.

Today, Fitzgerald’s challenges have led to increased conversations about how treatment for women’s mental health is different from men’s. Her rights as an individual were largely overlooked, and she often wrote letters to her husband about how she felt like a prisoner instead of a human being.

“You must try to understand how dreary and drastic is my present position,” she wrote. “Far away from all my friends and all my family across the Atlantic, and alone in a strange part of Switzerland with hardly a soul to speak English with. It’s heartbreaking, and sometimes I feel like crying.”

In 1948, Fitzgerald died in a fire. Although her husband was more famous, books and documentaries are now focusing on Fitzgerald’s life outside of her marriage and time in mental health hospitals.

4. Aaron Carter

Aaron Carter was a pop star and the younger brother of Backstreet Boys member Nick Carter. He rose to fame in the late 1990s with hits like “I Want Candy” and “That’s How I Beat Shaq.” He released his first album at age 9 and quickly became one of the biggest stars in America. But behind the scenes, he faced mental health issues, substance use disorder, and public legal battles.

In 2019, Carter revealed that he had been diagnosed with multiple mental health disorders, including schizophrenia, following years of erratic behavior and public breakdowns. After his initial diagnosis, Carter began writing music to raise awareness about substance use and living with a mental illness.

“The album started off kind of like a diary-type of thing,” Carter said. “I had to immerse myself [in treatment] to really get the best out of it that I could. I’m going to stay in that path and focus on my music, my life, and my health.”

Unfortunately, Carter’s life was cut tragically short in 2022. Although he wasn’t able to overcome his addictions, his discussions about mental health have helped his many fans feel less alone. Last year, part of the sales from Carter’s posthumous album, “The Recovery Album,” were donated to The Kids Mental Health Foundation, an organization aimed at promoting healthy emotional and physical habits.

Talk With Others Who Understand

On MyDepressionTeam, the social network for people with depression and other related mental health disorders, more than 150,000 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with conditions like borderline personality disorder and bipolar disorder.

Do you know of any well-known people who have lived with schizophrenia? Do you find comfort in reading stories about celebrities with similar conditions as you? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.