My friend is very lazy because he has schizophrenia with negative symptoms. Is t!

Negative symptoms are considered to be the most hindering part of schizophrenia in response to everyday functioning. Medicine is usually pretty effective at handling the positive symptoms but rarely helps with the negative ones. For some people, certain medications can cause the negative symptoms to get worse or even cause additional side effects that can make a person seem lazy (for example, many are sedating and can cause a person to have little energy or even need quite a bit of additional sleep.) Additionally, there are studies being conducted to see if medicines actually cause some negative symptoms or make them worse.

So can he change? Absolutely...anyone can change. But...it is an ongoing and difficult feat. He has to be motivated to change and one of the negative symptoms is a lack of motivation.

Imagine it this way...you probably feel accomplished after cleaning your room/apartment/house. Seeing everything put in its place is a pleasurable thing to you. But to your friend, even if he were to do some cleaning, he likely wouldn't feel accomplished or proud that he got something finished. It wouldn't make him feel any better...so in that case, why do it? Because the opposite (a dirty house) makes him feel the same way. It doesn't bother him. In that type of situation, can you imagine how difficult it would be to clean?

As a friend, the best thing you can do is be sympathetic towards his illness yet help to motivate him. When you visit him and his room is dirty, offer to--help--him clean it. Don't criticize him or tell him his place is nasty. Just offer to help him do some organizing if that is something he would like to do. Turn on some music and get to cleaning with him. Make it a shared task and he may feel more accomplished...especially if you praise him for putting in the effort. Heck, treat him to some ice cream or something when you guys finish. Help him find the motivation to do things on his own by first getting him back on the path of functioning as a team.

Advocate for people diagnosed with or effected by schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a major complex disorder that can only be managed with treatment, usually anti-psychotic drugs, which can hinder a persons ability to function on a normal basis. So if I was you I'd give your friend a break as they may not be able to do some activities because due to health or medication they physically cannot. Research the illness and try and support your friend not judge them.

Currently studying mental illness and stigma as part of my Thesis.

Negative symptoms of schizophrenia are often mistaken as being lazy, the person often lose interest in doing anything and can lie in bed all day and not watch TV or cook or wash.
Medication only really helps with the positive symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions.
By keeping him as a friend can help a lot, just for someone to talk to can make a big difference.

Schizophrenia is a major disorder so your friend may not be able to control his everyday life as you can. You may be judging him wrongly.

I don't know much about schizophrenia but you can't change him. I know that people who have it though can be active..so if he's lazing on the couch idk

Most people with Schizophrenia are able to function. Sounds like your friend is using it as a crutch.