World Schizophrenia Awareness Day [WSAD] takes place annually on 24 May.
Despite ongoing efforts to raise awareness, and although more people are hearing about schizophrenia through increased awareness, many still misunderstand it.
Schizophrenia is a mental health condition that causes psychosis and is associated with significant disability, potentially impacting personal, family, social, educational, and occupational functioning. Whilst not as common as many other mental health conditions, the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that schizophrenia affects approximately 23 million people or around 1 in 345 people in the world.
Persons living with schizophrenia commonly face a lot of stigma, discrimination, and a violation of their human rights. This is often due to the lack of understanding of the condition and a lack of awareness of the lived experience.
This World Schizophrenia Awareness Day, the South African Federation for Mental Health (SAFMH), the Family Support for Schizophrenia (FSS), and the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) collaborated on a short e-zine to highlight the lived experiences of people affected by schizophrenia and their families.
We invited contributions in the form of short letters and stories to help raise awareness, challenge stigma, and promote a more compassionate understanding of this often-misunderstood condition.
This zine is an exercise in bridging the gap between misunderstanding and empathy and amplifying the voices of those whose lives have been impacted.
Sharing my story is something I consider a privilege. It is important to me to show that a diagnosis does not define a person’s future. With the right support, understanding, and resilience, it is possible to build a life that feels normal, meaningful, and joyful.” – Chrisna Steenkamp
You can view the e-zine below.
You can also download the zine here.
Thank you to all the contributors for taking the time to share their stories with us. We truly appreciate your honest and heartfelt contributions.
See below for all events FSS is hosting and /or part of for World Schizophrenia Awareness Day.
Friday, 22 May 2026 @ 1 PM: SADAG Ask the Expert session
Saturday, 23 May 2026 @ 5 PM Padel for a Cause at Kempton Park Padel Club
Monday, 25 May 2026 @ 7 PM: FSS support group meeting
- To find out more about FSS, check out their website here
- Sign up for their newsletter here
- Interested in becoming an FSS member? Click here for more
For enquiries, please contact:
Michel’le Donnelly – Communications and Awareness Lead
CELL: +27 (0)79 799 6533
EMAIL: michel’le@safmh.org
