National Schizophrenia Awareness Day — May 24
SA Members are encouraged to let their voices be heard on May 24 — National
Schizophrenia Awareness Day (NSAD). Declared by the National Schizophrenia Foundation,
this special observance helps to raise public awareness and reduce the stigma
regarding schizophrenia.
“This day is significant because, despite scientific advances, there’s still
a lot of inaccurate and misleading information out there,” said Eric Hufnagel,
President and CEO of the National Schizophrenia Foundation. “The public needs
to know that schizophrenia is treatable, and most people with the illness do
improve with current treatment regimens.”
The day for National Schizophrenia Awareness Day – May 24 is itself an important
day in the history of schizophrenia, and mental illness in general. It was on
May 24, 1793, that Dr. Philippe Pinel removed the chains from the mentally ill
patients in the Bicetre asylum for the “insane” in Paris, France. Dr. Pinel
was the chief physician at the mental hospital, and his action on that May 24
was a landmark day in the treatment of psychiatric illnesses. It marked the
beginning of more humane treatment for the mentally ill.
In honor of Dr. Philippe Pinel, Members of the Schizophrenics Anonymous Self-Help
Network observe May 24 as NSAD, or “Pinel Day.” Some special activities planned
for this year’s observance include:
- The SA Group in Wheaton, IL, is planning a conference featuring Dr. Carol
North as the keynote speaker, as well as panel discussions and research updates.
- Michigan-based Rio Bravo restaurants will be doing a fundraiser on May 24.
Patrons just have to mention National Schizophrenia Awareness Day to their
server, and 20 percent of their bill will be donated to the National Schizophrenia
Foundation. - The National Schizophrenia Foundation is sponsoring a Stakeholder Reception
in the Metro Detroit area on May 21. In addition to sharing information about
NSAD, the Foundation will let attendees know about some of its programs, including
SA.
10 Things You Can Do to Recognize National Schizophrenia
Awareness Day
- Hold a kickoff event announcing National Schizophrenia Awareness Day in
your community. Invite the mayor, other community leaders, health educators,
the media, and the public. - Organize community activities such as creating a “human chain” and “unleashing
the chain” or conducting a balloon launch. - Incorporate schizophrenia lectures and discussions into health education
programs at senior centers, health departments, and other community meeting
places. - Sponsor an awareness walk/jog and provide participants with free health
information. - Ask local churches and other faith-based organizations to talk about National
Schizophrenia Awareness Day from the pulpit and to include information about
it in the church flyers/newsletters. - Sponsor a community picnic or potluck.
- Ask your City Council to issue a proclamation regarding National Schizophrenia
Awareness Day. Alert the media, and invite community members to the signing.
- Ask the local college or hospital to host a schizophrenia symposium to update
physicians and other health care professionals on recent research on schizophrenia.
Work with them to identify topics and speakers. - Encourage your local newspapers or school districts to sponsor essay, poetry,
oratory, and/or poster contests on National Schizophrenia Awareness Day. - Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper.
SA Group Listing by City/State
Schizophrenics Anonymous� (SA) is a six-step, self-help support group for persons
with schizophrenia and schizophrenia-related disorders. SA is administered by
the National Schizophrenia Foundation. SA promotes self-help as an adjunct to
professional help and the use of medication. SA groups are run by their collective
membership, have no dues, governing bodies, or by-laws, and function solely
to provide the element of self-help in working toward recovery. The following
is a current listing of active SA groups. Click
here for a complete group listing.
Anyone seeking more information about SA or starting a group may call the NSF
office at (517) 485-7168 or (800) 482-9534.
News from El Paso
By Bruce B.
I have been the Group Leader of the El Paso Chapter of SA for the past eight
years. We have a lot of new members and a few “old” members. We average about
eight to 10 members a week. I have also been a Board Member of the El Paso NAMI
for the past four years. In addition, I’m the Chairperson for the El Paso Advocacy
for Mental Health that I started in November 2002. It is a Chapter of Texas
Mental Health Consumers, based out of Austin.
We are working on a lot of outreach programs. We are going to start a program
for out-patients at the El Paso Psychiatric Center starting in May. It will
be called TIMA (Texas Implementation of Medication Algorithms). It is a consumer-to-consumer
education program that is to help consumers learn about the medications and
about the side effects that they may have. They will also learn different diagnoses
and treatments and the importance of staying on a routine schedule.
We are also working in conjunction with NAMI – El Paso to do “In our own Voice:
Living with Mental Illness.” This is a NAMI national education program for recovery
from mental illness. We are looking at educating consumers to help them from
rotating in and out of hospitals and to give them support.
SA in Action…
The following SA Members have been active in their communities. If you or an
SA Member you know have something to share, please submit it to The Forum.
- Tammy N. presented “My Life Journey with Schizophrenia” at the California
Association of Social Rehabilitation Agencies on April 30. - An SA Member under the pen name of William James, Jr., has written a book,
A Journey through Madness. The book is available at area bookstores. - Chris C. gave a perspective on SA to the department heads at the National
Institutes of Mental Health in Rockville, MD, on April 9. - Benjie C. gave a presentation on SA to the NAMI group at First Baptist Church
in South Carolina on April 28. They are hoping to start a new open SA group
there. - Nora B. was highlighted in the newsletter of Community Mental Health in
Oakland County, MI, where she talked about her experiences with schizophrenia
and SA.
From the Founder
Thoughts from Joanne Verbanic
The world needs more peacemakers. People in SA can be peacemakers, as we are
all united in fellowship and peace. In this time of world unrest, let us turn
to God as we understand Him. Let’s pray for peace to all and ask our Higher
Power to help protect us and give us strength to carry on.
Let us always remember to “let go and let God.” There are many things happening
in the world out of our control. Let’s focus on living our daily lives and being
the best person we can be with love in our hearts.
A Member’s Story…
By David G. (Los Angeles area SA Leader)
I was reintroduced to SA after my second relapse. During that time, I suffered
a brain hemorrhage that sent me into a state of mania (extreme). I was released
from the hospital to find I had no home. I lost my mobile home and most of my
belongings. After placement into a local facility, I did not want to be isolated.
I used Steps 4 and 6 and was guided to an SA meeting at a local hospital in
conjunction with their aftercare program, which “became my saving grace.”
The group at times only had myself present. I progressed through SA, and, with
the help of my local self-help organization, I came into a leadership role.
Through determination and help, I canvassed the neighborhoods in an effort to
build the group up. I later became a leader of the SA group at our drop-in center.
Both groups now have eight to 10 constant members.
Through the networking by both groups, we were able to develop another four
groups in the Los Angeles County area. Some of these groups are under the direction
of leaders through “Project Return: The Next Step,” and others are independent.
I have worked with other outlying areas of my communities to develop ? through
a local therapist and networking conferences ? two other groups. Others are
showing interest to go further.
I have been fortunate to have SA help and consider this an inner resource of
empowerment to share with others. I feel honored and privileged for recognition
(in attending future planning meetings, the volunteer Liaison position, etc.),
but the members of SA are the ones to be acknowledged. Most of all, in each
day as in Step 6, I surrender my will and ask that I be guided by my GOD of
my understanding. I believe firmly in SA and spreading the Steps into my and
others’ recovery.
The future looks bright for SA
Schizophrenics Anonymous members, leaders, and National Schizophrenia Foundation
staff met for a “Future Planning” meeting on March 12-16, 2003.
In addition to obtaining leadership training, previewing the revised draft
Group Leaders’ Manual, and participating in focus groups facilitated by pharmaceutical
companies, volunteers were active in planning sessions that spanned all day
Friday, March 14 and concluded with discussion groups on Sunday, March 16.
“Not only did we have great participation from the SA Leadership,” said Sharon
Pedersen, Director of Program for the NSF, “but the discussion and resulting
action plans also put SA on course for a bright future.”
The format of the meeting was as follows:
- Brainstorming sessions highlighting SA Members’ perceptions of the program’s
Strengths, Challenges, Opportunities and Threats (SCOT). - Further brainstorming on SA Members’ visions/goals for the program over
the next five years. - Grouping of vision statements (goals) under several broad categories: Group
Expansion/Administration; Fellowship/Unity; Leadership; Conflict; Wellness;
Literature; Communications, Media & Internet; and Stigma. - Voting on which goals were the most important to focus on at this time (in
no particular order of importance): Increasing the number of SA Groups nationwide,
especially in cities of 100,000 or more, so SA is in every state; Increasing
the number of conferences where SA has display materials; Publishing an SA
“Big Book;” Developing a Speakers’ Bureau; Holding Regional Trainings for
SA Members; and Developing a formal Wellness Initiative. - Forming work groups to draft concrete objectives and action plans for these
goals.
The work groups then reported on objectives and drafted action plans. They agreed
to refer two additional issues that came up to the next Central Group Consciousness
meeting: 1) the definition of “schizophrenia-related disorders” when we make the
statement “schizophrenia and schizophrenia-related disorders” such as in our mission
statement; and 2) the interest among SA leadership in creating a “policy statement”
regarding the wisdom of maintaining one’s medication regimen.
In addition to this very productive work, participants volunteered to partake
in two of six discussion group sessions held on Sunday morning, March 16. The
six topics were chosen through Central Group Consciousness and staff discussions,
and were meant to stimulate discussion that would inform future planning, as
well as to give staff a sense of common group leader issues that may be important
for training sessions and manuals.
The discussion groups were as follows: S A Leader Issues; Defining S A Talking
Points; Spicing Up Meetings; Recognized Groups and Co-Sponsors; Getting the
Word Out; and Fact Sheet Development.
Top 10 World Disabilities
In the 1990 book, “The Global Burden of Illness,” the World Health Organization
found that mental illnesses have a higher rate of disability than any other
general class of illnesses. The researchers used a measure called DALYs, or
Disability-Adjusted Life Years. Says author Nancy Andreasen, M.D., Ph.D., “This
is a composite measure of time lost due to premature mortality and the time
lived with a disability.” One DALY is the equivalent of the loss of one person
for one year.
The top 10 world disabilities in DALYs (in thousands) for the 15-44 age
group were:
- Unipolar major depression – 42,972 DALYs
- Tuberculosis – 19,673 DALYs
- Road traffic accidents – 19,625 DALYs
- Alcohol use – 14,848 DALYs
- Self-inflicted injuries – 14,645 DALYs
- Manic-depressive illness – 13,189 DALYs
- War – 13,134 DALYs
- Violence – 12,955 DALYs
- Schizophrenia – 12,542 DALYs
- Iron deficiency anemia – 12,511 DALYs
Schizophrenia is thus in the top 10 most disabling illnesses for those in the
prime of their lives, and mental illness is involved in five of the top 10 disabling
conditions in the world for this age group.
SOURCE: Nancy Andreasen, M.D., Ph.D., “Brave New Brain: Conquering
Mental Illness in the Era of the Genome.” (Oxford University Press, 2001.)
Predicting group longevity
At a recent Central Group Consciousness meeting, the question was presented:
What predicts how long an SA group lasts? Here are a few of the responses:
- Mental health of leader
- Liaisons keeping in touch with leaders
- Shared leadership
- Preventing isolation: “You are not alone”
- Holding meetings every week
- Keeping meetings interesting: Varying the format and focus to include Group
Consciousness meetings and fun activities - Affirmation readings: people like the meeting format, and feel supported
- Getting people involved with open discussion
- Regular reading of the Welcome Statement to Newcomers
- The SA e-letter provides good discussion topics
- A CMH van picks people up for a rural group
- Charisma of the leader
- Easy-to-follow meeting format