A schizophrenia Association

Schizophrenia is a psychological disorder in which people interpret reality abnormally. It includes hallucinations, delusions and distorted behaviour and thinking. Lifelong treatment is required.

SAA is a Schizophrenia Awareness Association and was founded by Dr. Jagannath Wani in the year 1997 in India. Schizophrenia Awareness Association (SAA) is a non-profit organization based in the city of Pune, in Maharashtra State, for individuals with psychological illness and their families.

SAA is managed by user survivors, family caregivers and volunteers jointly and is away from proprietary style of functioning. SAA works for and with user survivors and family caregivers. SAA believes in their capacities and encourages them to take responsibility. SAA provides them a forum to share, understand and support. SAA does not receive any grant or funding from any govt. dept. or agency. SAA’s work is mainly to create awareness and to remove the stigma about schizophrenia and other mental disorders in the community, to promote Self Help Group Activities among persons with mental disorders and their family caregivers. SAA mainly works in 4 areas as follows: Awareness, Support Group, Rehabilitation and Events. In Awareness they conduct various campaigns to create awareness regarding Schizophrenia. In the Support Group they conduct meetings twice a month that is on 2nd and 4th Saturday. On 2nd Saturday it’s a sharing meet where caregivers and stabilized patients share their views and on 4th Saturday they conduct meets regarding guidance and make people aware about upcoming therapies. In Rehabilitation they conduct various therapies for the students there. The students eligibility criteria is that the individuals having schizophrenia should be stabilized and should be on medications for stabilization. In Rehabilitation they conduct various activities for motor development. In Events they conduct 6 Annual events.

Just thought of sharing about this organization as we just celebrated schizophrenia day. People all around the world are trying to make this a better place for the special population but we still need to spread more awareness.

- Apurva Karwa