Schizophrenia Awareness

Schizophrenia Awareness Week is an annual event held in May each year that MIFA and its member organisations use to highlight issues that affect people living with a  mental illness, their families and friends.

Schizophrenia Awareness Week 2013 will be conducted from Sunday 12th May to Saturday 18th May.

View the Register of events - find something near you

MIFA has continued to concentrate its efforts during Schizophrenia Awareness Week on advocatng for better understanding of the physical health issues faced by people with severe mental illness. 

We have been collecting and promoting personal stories of recovery and issues about personal physical health and we are very grateful to those people who have contributed to the development of the stories.

Lauren's Story
Maureen's Story
Cate's Story
Daniel's Story
Jessica's Story
Mary's Story
Monica's Story 

Schizophrenia Awareness Week in 2012 was conducted from Sunday May 13 to Saturday May 20.

In 2012, MIFA  continued its advocacy about the poor physical health of people affected by mental illness. You can view our comprehensive range of information related to physical health issues on this page. We will be improving and updating the content on this page in the lead up to SAW 2013.

Posters and cards aimed at the general public

As usual, MIFA has produced posters and postcards and made them available through member organisations aimed at the general public. This year the focus is on the link between physical and mental health.  Schizophrenia Awareness Week 2012  posters and postcards are also available highlighting the 25 year difference in the life expectancy of people with mental illness when compared to the general public

Activities aimed at consumers

Webinar about smoking cessation - nearly ready to load editted highlights to YouTube - check back soon

Webinar about getting into physical activity and exercise - also nearly ready to load to YouTube - check back soon

Consumer stories about physical health challenges

Several people have volunteered to appear in short videos to tell their story about the effects of mental illness on their physical health. Follow this link to YouTube and the video will open in a new window.

Parliamentary Friends of Mental Illness

On May 30th 2012, a little after SAW, the regular meeting of the Federal Parliamentary Friends of Mental Illness met with their colleagues from the Diabetes Support Group of the Federal Parlaiment to hear the facts about the alarming rate of type 2 Diabetes amongst people with mental illness.

There were a range of activities in states and territories around Australia.

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