Schizophrenics Anonymous

The program was established in Detroit in 1985.[https://web.archive.org/web/20010129010300/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,34386-1,00.html Working Their Way Back], by James Willwerth, Time, Nov. 14, 1999 The founder was Joanne Verbanic, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia in 1970.{{cite web |url=http://www.nami.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Inform_Yourself/Upcoming_Events/Convention/2005_Highlights/Presentations3/05NAMIconv-M10562.ppt |title=Schizophrenics Anonymous |accessdate=2008-02-10 |author=Linda Whitten and Bruce Black |year=2005 |format=PPT, slide 4 |work=NAMI (the National Alliance on Mental Illness) website |quote=Joanne Verbanic / Founder of Schizophrenics Anonymous / 1970 diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia / 1985 with Mental Health Association in Michigan Founded Schizophrenics Anonymous / Motivated to erase stigma / “The stigma is harder to deal with than the illness itself.” / Spokesperson at Mental Health conferences, universities, schools, clubs, TV, radio in an effort to educate the public.}} Shortly before forming SA, Verbanic publicly disclosed her diagnosis and discussed her illness on national television in an effort to challenge the stigma associated with the condition.{{cite news|last1=Vance|first1=Daniel|title=Verbanic Started Schizophrenics Anonymous|url=http://www.ahherald.com/columns-list/262-disabilities-week/9990-verbanic-started-schizophrenics-anonymous|work=Atlantic Highlands Herald|date=1 January 2011|language=en-gb}} She was a 2006 recipient of a Lilly Reintegration Award in recognition of her lifetime contributions to the mental health community, and she continued to be active as a spokesperson for persons with schizophrenia and other mental illness until her death on May 7, 2015.[http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/micro_stories.pl?ACCT=916306&TICK=LLY&STORY=/www/story/10-10-2006/0004448465&EDATE=Oct+10,+2006 Eli Lilly and Company Announces 2006 Lilly Reintegration Awards Recipients], Eli Lilly press release, October 10, 2006

By 2007, more than 150 local SA groups operated in 31 of the 50 United States, and in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, France, India and Venezuela.[http://www.recovery-world.com/Schizophrenics-Anonymous.html Recovery World]

Technical support for Schizophrenics Anonymous was provided by the National Schizophrenia Foundation (NSF) until 2007 when NSF ceased operations.{{Citation needed|date=February 2010}} In response to the loss of a national sponsor, a group of consumers, family members, and mental health providers came together to form a not-for-profit organization, Schizophrenia and Related Disorders Alliance of America (SARDAA).{{Cite web|url=https://sardaa.org/about-sardaa/|title=About SARDAA {{!}} SARDAA|website=sardaa.org|language=en-US|access-date=2018-05-16}}

SARDAA promotes recovery for persons with schizophrenia and related brain disorders including bipolar disorder, schizoaffective disorder, depression with psychosis,{{cn|date=May 2018}} and experience with psychosis. They envision a future in which every person with a schizophrenia-related brain disorder has the opportunity to recover from their disorders. The name Schizophrenics Anonymous was changed to Schizophrenia Alliance in 2015 and added Psychosis Support and Acceptance in 2018.{{cn|date=May 2018}} They provide an online directory of SA groups, sponsor five weekly SA conference calls, and one Family and Friends conference call. At their annual conference, the group trains individuals and groups who have started or would like to start an SA group."Linda Whitten Stalters." Annals of the American Psychotherapy Association. 2008

Although some SA groups are organized by mental health professionals, research has suggested that peer-led SA groups are more sustainable and longer lasting.Helping Mutual Help: Managing the Risks of Professional Partnerships. D.A. Salem, et al. Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Michigan School of Public Health. 2010 Some groups are organized in psychiatric hospitals or jails and are not open to the public.

The SA program is based on the twelve-step model,{{cite web |url=http://www.nami.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Inform_Yourself/Upcoming_Events/Convention/2005_Highlights/Presentations3/05NAMIconv-M10562.ppt |title=Schizophrenics Anonymous |accessdate=2008-02-10 |author=Linda Whitten and Bruce Black |year=2005 |format=PPT, slide 11 |work=NAMI (the National Alliance on Mental Illness) website |quote=Initially based on 12 Steps of AA / Self-help only—not advocacy or group therapy}} but includes just six steps.{{cite web |url=http://www.nami.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Inform_Yourself/Upcoming_Events/Convention/2005_Highlights/Presentations3/05NAMIconv-M10562.ppt |title=Schizophrenics Anonymous |accessdate=2008-02-10 |author=Linda Whitten and Bruce Black |year=2005 |format=PPT, slides 25-31 |work=NAMI (the National Alliance on Mental Illness) website}} The organization describes the program's purpose of helping participants to learn about schizophrenia, "restore dignity and sense of purpose," obtain "fellowship, positive support, and companionship," improve their attitudes about their lives and their illnesses, and take "positive steps towards recovery."{{cite web|url=http://sanonymous.com/navigation/what_is_sa.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080427225150/http://sanonymous.com/navigation/what_is_sa.html | archive-date=27 April 2008 | title=What Is Schizophrenics Anonymous? }}

Joanne Verbanic wrote the original "Schizophrenics Anonymous" book, better known as "The Blue Book," which describes the six steps to recovery. The steps require members to admit they need help, take responsibility for their choices and consequences, believe they have the inner strength to help themselves and others, forgive themselves and others, understand that false beliefs contribute to their problems and change those beliefs, and decide to turn their lives over to a higher power.Schizophrenics Anonymous, by Joanne Verbanic

One study about the risks of professional partnerships centers on the partnership between Schizophrenics Anonymous (SA) and the Mental Health Association of Michigan (MHAM) over a 14-year period. The study shows that the professional partnership resulted in increased access to SA Groups across Michigan and organization expansion and development within SA. The professional influence also lead more SA Groups to be held in more traditional mental health treatment settings and led to more professional-led SA groups.{{Citation|last=Salem|first=Deborah A.|title=Helping Mutual Help: Managing the Risks of Professional Partnerships|date=2010|work=Mental Health Self-Help|pages=303–334|publisher=Springer New York|isbn=9781441962522|last2=Reischl|first2=Thomas M.|last3=Randall|first3=Katie W.|doi=10.1007/978-1-4419-6253-9_14}}

Self-help groups are more available to people who live independently. Researchers at Michigan State University studied whether SA would be successful in group homes. The results were positive: the groups had high attendance and participation and were well liked. However, staff members controlled who could lead and who could attend the meetings, and how the meetings should be run. The programs fell apart. The same obstacle occurred in SA groups started in prisons and monitored by employees.The initiation of mutual-help groups within residential treatment settings. Salem DA, Gant L, Campbell R. Community Ment Health J. 1998 Aug;34(4):419-29.

• Self-help groups for mental health
• Treatment of schizophrenia

{{reflist|30em}}

• {{Cite web|url=http://www.schizophrenia.com/help/Schizanon.html | title=Contact Info for Schizophrenics Anonymous|website=schizophrenia.com | access-date=8 November 2022}}
• {{Cite web|url=https://sardaa.org/?sm-location=schizophrenics-anonymous-at-hegira-programs-inc|title=SARDAA – Schizophrenia and Related Disorders Alliance of America|website=sardaa.org|language=en-US|access-date=2018-05-23|archive-date=2018-05-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180524093341/https://sardaa.org/?sm-location=schizophrenics-anonymous-at-hegira-programs-inc|url-status=dead}}

Category:Twelve-step programs

Category:Schizophrenia-related organizations

Category:Organizations established in 1985

Category:1985 establishments in Michigan