In the film, Carrey portrays a Rhode Island law enforcement officer with "split personality" disorder. After forgetting to take his medication, Carrey’s character becomes angry, exhibiting frightening and physically violent behavior. "Consumers and family members are very concerned about the false and misleading information contained in this film. Its widespread promotion and early box-office success stand to erect yet another significant barrier to our success in accurately conveying the facts about schizophrenia and other serious mental illnesses and our overall effort to encourage public acceptance and inclusion of persons with mental disorders in the life of the community," Sawyer said.

"I want to inform the general public that, contrary to popular belief, schizophrenia does not mean ‘split personality.’ Schizophrenia is perhaps the most serious biological brain disorder and, left untreated, can be the most debilitating," Sawyer said. "However, schizophrenia responds exceptionally well to treatment and often shows significantly higher treatment success rates than heart disease and other physical illnesses."

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately one percent of the population develops schizophrenia in their lifetime, meaning that over 2 million Americans suffer from the illness in any given year. Symptoms of the disease vary, but can include distorted perceptions of reality, sensory hallucinations, delusions (irrational and false beliefs), disordered thinking and lack of emotional expression.

"I am most concerned that the aggressive and angry behavior leading to physical violence depicted in ‘Me, Myself and Irene’ will further mislead the public about persons with mental illness," Sawyer said. "Mental illness and violent or criminal behavior do not necessarily go together." People with mental illness are more often victims of violent crime than perpetrators.

While the media and entertainment industries often try to link mental illness and violence, studies indicate that most individuals with schizophrenia are not violent. In fact, people with schizophrenia are more typically withdrawn and prefer to be left alone. "There is no demonstrable link between schizophrenia and violence," Sawyer said. "Hundreds of thousands of violent crimes are committed every year by persons that do not have schizophrenia or any other mental illness. It is unfair and inaccurate to automatically correlate mental illness with violent behavior."

The public should also be offended by cruel and insensitive jokes targeting persons with mental illness. "I find it interesting, but tragic, that the public tolerates cruel and insensitive treatment of persons with mental disorders, but finds similar treatment of other minority groups socially unacceptable and politically incorrect. This must stop. Attitudes must change. People with mental illness will tell you that the challenge of public opinion is much more difficult to overcome than the mental disorder itself," Sawyer said.

The following organizations can also provide information, referrals and other services for persons with schizophrenia or mental illness:

3. The National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia & Depression at