Taye Diggs Reflects on His Sister’s Schizophrenia Journey: ‘I Didn’t Have to Stop Being a Part of Her Life’ (Exclusive)

• When Taye Diggs’ sister was diagnosed with schizophrenia in her 20s, he admits, “I didn’t know how to deal with it”

• Diggs said he eventually realized there were so may ways to support her, and that he didn’t have to stop being a part of her life

• The siblings have teamed up with Bristol Myers Squibb for Live Your PosSCZible, an initiative to support and celebrate those with the mental health condition

Taye Diggs is opening up about what it’s like to care for someone with schizophrenia, sharing what he has learned through his relationship with his younger sister Christian Diggs, who was diagnosed with the mental health condition in her twenties.

“She’s the same person,” Taye, 54, tells PEOPLE exclusively. “You just have to make some adjustments and really support and try to kind of step out of your own perspective and not be afraid to be there.”

Schizophrenia is a mental health condition that can cause hallucinations, delusions and disorganized thinking, according to the Cleveland Clinic. It requires lifelong treatment.

Taye describes how he felt when Christian, now 49, was first diagnosed. “I pulled away for a bit, just feeling like I didn’t know where I was supposed to fit in,” the actor and children’s book author says.

“When we grew up, we were very, very close. We had a wonderful relationship, but when she started her twenties, that’s when her behavior started to change,” he recalls. “The reports that I was getting from other family members — because I was away working — were quite frightening, and I had no idea how to deal with it.”

“All of a sudden all of these crazy things were happening to her,” the Broadway alum explains. “Luckily, we found her a solid therapist who had the tools to lead us to her diagnosis. And then there was a feeling of relief, because we could actually put a name to what was going on with her.”

At the time, “I kind of fell into the path of making assumptions, instead of doing the necessary research,” he says, explaining that he’d associated schizophrenia with “what I had seen on the big screen and the little screen.”

It’s why he and Christian have teamed up with Bristol Myers Squibb for Live Your PosSCZible. The campaign offers information, support and guidance for families affected by schizophrenia while celebrating the achievements of those living with the disorder.

“These are places you can go where you can find a community for other people who are going through the same thing and doing the research,” Taye says of the campaign, which he wishes was around when his sister was diagnosed.

Fortunately, he learned to see Christian’s situation in a new light.

“Getting over my fear and engaging with my sister and learning more about what she was going through made me realize that her life didn’t have to stop. And I didn’t have to stop being a part of her life. That was, and continues to be, very encouraging.”

The siblings recently co-hosted a talent showcase, Express Your PosSCZible, for those with schizophrenia. “It’s so great that she has a community, because there were so many moments when she felt completely just alone,” Taye says. The more she sees that other people are in a similar situation and having similar struggles — but at the same time, doing so well and thriving — that’s so great to see.”

Diggs also shared that caring for someone with schizophrenia can require reframing how you look at their achievements: “I’ve come to a place where I’m just accepting. Of course, the obvious times to celebrate would be when she has a great job interview and she gets the job — but then sometimes if she doesn’t have a great job interview, I want to make sure that she knows that I’m there for her and we love her regardless of the outcome.

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