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For the national perspective on mental health

The Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia (MIFA) is the country’s largest national not-for-profit community organisation for people affected by mental illness and psychiatric disability, with members at state and territory level. Unlike other organisations MIFA deals with a range of illnesses including schizophrenia, major depression, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorders and anxiety disorders.

MIFA members provide vital services, support, information and advocacy for people with mental illnesses and their carers. Programs offering education for consumers, carers and the community; vocational options including the Clubhouse model, social firms and open employment; day programs; rehabilitation; respite; accommodation support; residential services; rural and remote services and the latest information about mental health are available nationally.

There is no organisation better placed to provide expert comment on the state of the mental health system from a national perspective. MIFA can comment on:

•the crisis in mental health services;
•government policy;
•causes, effects and treatment of various mental illnesses;
•social stigma, myths and stereotypes surrounding mental illness;
•employment issues for people with mental illnesses;
•medication options;
•programs and services available to people with mental illnesses and their families.

MIFA member organisations are the Schizophrenia Fellowship of NSW; Mental Illness Fellowship of North Queensland; Schizophrenia Fellowship of Queensland; Mental Illness Fellowship Victoria; Mental Health Carers (NT); Mental Illness Fellowship of South Australia; Mental Illness Fellowship of Western Australia and Association of Relatives and Friends of the Mentally Ill (Tas). This represents a membership of 15,000.

For interviews with MIFA and state-based CEOs and people with mental illness and their families contact David Meldrum on 08 8272 1018