When a person is struck with a severe mental illness such as schizophrenia, the person their friends and family once knew disappears. With therapy, medication, counseling for the family and training for the community some less severely affected schizophrenics can go on to lead functional and happy lives. Relapse, however, is always a threat. "Chronic schizophrenics - you can't change them much. You can only counsel the family," Dr. Irungu said. "There is no way to remove those fixed delusions." The relapse rate of schizophrenia can decrease up to 60 percent if patients receive proper medication and families receive education and support. But only 25 percent of those suffering receive such treatment. Those who suffer from mental illness are often stigmatised and excluded from the community because of fear associated with behavior people don't understand.