Schizophrenia Awareness Week: 22 to 28 May 2022
In 2022, Schizophrenia Awareness Week (SAW) will be held from Sunday 22 to Saturday 28 May. The theme for this year is Connecting with HOPE.
Our key messages for this year's campaign are
- Connecting with HOPE sensitively considering some people may be feeling helpless and hopeless
- Busting myths: we need to reduce fear and enhance awareness of schizophrenia
- Recovery is possible
- Being inclusive of family and carers is important
Hashtags: #SAW2022 #SchizophreniaAwareness #ConnectingWithHope #DiscoverBetterMentalHealth #MentalHealthMatters
Information for people living with schizophrenia can reach out for support if they need it by connecting to Finding North Network and the SANE Forums.
Reach out for support
Do you need support? Call a community mental health service near you to get support, information and referral: 1800 985 944.
You can find your nearest service on the MINetworks Find a Service.
Events and Online Events in 2022
Mental Illness Fellowship Western Australia
Learn about the CHIME model, explore what processes are involved in recovery, and join a discussion about how to apply these to your own life.
For a free online, peer-led workshop suitable for anyone interested in exploring Mental Health Recovery.
For more information, click here
safeTALK Workshop
Learn how to identify the signs of people who may have thoughts of suicide
the simple yet effective TALK steps: Tell, Ask, Listen, and Keep Safe
how to connect people to life-saving resources and supports.
For more information, click here
Webinar: I’m Not Sick, I Don’t Need Your Help
As family carers, we often struggle to feel effective when communicating with our loved ones. Join us for this special event during Schizophrenia Awareness Week 2022, where Dr Xavier Amador will share his experiences and how he adopted a respectful and non-judgemental relationship with his family member.
The presentation introduces The LEAP approach (Listen, Empathise, Agree, Partner) as a useful technique when supporting a loved one with mental ill-health. More information can be found here
One Door Mental Health
(NSW)
One Door Mental Health will be hosting its annual symposium during Schizophrenia Awareness Week (SAW) in 2022.
For many years, the One Door Symposium has been the perfect platform to launch SAW and bring together some of the leading researchers, advocates, industry leaders, and people we support to share the latest insights into mental health.
During the week, topics such as alternative therapies, ensuring quality and safeguards for psychosocial services, research, and peer leadership.
To register, click here
Learn about Schizophrenia and Psychosis
Want to learn more about Schizophrenia and Psychosis? Check out these factsheets:
MINetworks Factsheets
Factsheet: Antipsychotic Medication
Factsheet: Suicidal behaviour and self-harm
Factsheet: Families & friends of people affected by mental illnesss
Facsheet: Something is not quite right about the way someone close to you is behaving
Factsheet: Smoking and mental illness
More MINetworks Factsheets are available here.
Psychosis Australia Trust Insights
Psychosis Australia Trust brings together researchers around Australia to drive research in psychosis.
In conjunction with MIFA and psychosis researchers, Psychosis Australia Trust developed research Insights into psychosis:
Insight 1: Mental health of people with psychosis
Psychotic illness has a severe and often lifelong impact of those affected, their families and friends.
Insight 2: Physical health and people with psychosis
People living with psychotic illness die earlier than other Australians.
Insight 3: Services and supports for people with psychosis
Recovery and social inclusion are inhibited by social isolation and loneliness, lack of effective employment support and financial concerns.
Insight 4: Employment and people with psychosis
Many people with psychosis want to work, but are unable to find and retain suitable employment.
Insight 5: Social Isolation and people with psychosis
The isolation of many people with psychosis is a painful added burden to the symptoms, disability, poor physical health and social disadvantage already experienced.
News and Media
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About SAW
Schizophrenia Awareness Week (SAW) was created in 1986 by the then Schizophrenia Council of Australia, now MIFA, and is held in May every year to coincide with the week of World Schizophrenia Awareness Day (24 May). In 2021, it will be held from 23 to 29 May.
People with schizophrenia are among the most highly stigmatised and socially marginalised people in our community. Through this Week, we and our partners aim to reduce stigma towards people affected by schizophrenia, encourage inclusive behaviour, bust myths about schizophrenia, and promote help-seeking by people affected by schizophrenia and their carers.
Every year, MIFA, its members and many partners around Australia promote national awareness raising through videos, social media, quizzes, posters, post-cards, and events around Australia.
Campaign from 2011
