Greetings S.A. Folks,

Every once in a while, business folks invade public help group sites
and interject promotional ads for themselves.  It happened just
recently at the S.A. Discussion Group site.  The person who posted the
message has been banned from the S.A. Yahoo Group, and I express my
apologies.  S.A. knows nothing about the service suggested in the
advertisement.

Regards,

--John P.

As the business war on the air is hotting up with so many low-budget
airlines dominating the sky, the passengers can now enjoy the best
deals. The webguide - http://air.myguideforlife.com - helps you find
the cheapest and even free air tickets to make your journey ore
happier and very less expensive.

Visit the website now to find out how to get the cheap and free air
tickets: http://air.myguideforlife.com

--A New Non-Profit Organization Formed to Support Schizophrenics Anonymous

A new umbrella organization has been formed to support S.A.? A national
non-profit organization,?the new organization?is called "Schizophrenia And
Related Disorders Alliance of America."? The website for the new organization is
at this link?address:

http://www.sardaa.org/index.htm

You can sign up for regular organizational news updates by e-mail at this
address above.


The Schizophrenics Anonymous page at this website is at this address:

http://www.sardaa.org/Programs.htm

This general information about the Schizophrenia And Related Disorders Alliance
of America (SARDAA) is from the website:

?Our Mission: The Schizophrenia and Related Disorders Alliance of America
promotes improvement in the lives of people with schizophrenia and their
families.
Our Vision: Our vision is that every person with schizophrenia or a related
disorder (mental illness involving psychosis) achieves recovery and a full life
in a compassionate community free of stigma and discrimination.


Our Objectives:

To promote hope and recovery for persons with schizophrenia and related
disorders.

To eliminate the stigma and myths about schizophrenia.

To raise awareness so that early diagnosis and treatment increase the chance for
recovery.

To ensure that consumer-driven and recovery-oriented services are fully
accessible.



Postal address

SARDAA

P.O. Box 3269 Annapolis, MD 21403

Electronic mail

SA Group Leadership Support (Larry A.) ?larrya@...

General Information: empowerment@...
Webmaster: don@...?


On February 27, 2008 an organizing committee met to form an organization
dedicated to the support of persons who live with schizophrenia and related
disorders.? The committee chose to name the organization "Schizophrenia And
Related Disorders Alliance of America", also to be known as SARDAA.



SARDAA has been organized to continue ongoing support for Schizophrenics
Anonymous, create a national toll-free hotline, provide information via this
website, promote personal stories of recovery and hope, organize a speaker's
bureau of people with expertise about living with the disease, family issues and
care professionals.? Our focus is on providing materials and information that
will assist people in their own personal journey in living with their illness.


We welcome those who share in our concern for and providing of assistance to
help those with schizophrenia and psychotic disorders.? Together, we can make a
difference.



--from John P., member of S.A.
================================================================================\
==========

For more information about
Schizophrenics Anonymous.:

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Pantheon/8320/SA.htm
(Note: Address and phone number of the Mental Health Association in Michigan is
out of date.)

Also at:

http://www.sardaa.org/Programs.htm

----------
For the Google information group for S.A.:
http://groups.google.com/group/schizophrenics-anonymous?hl=en???
------------
For the Yahoo discussion group for S.A.:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/schizophrenics-anonymous?

?

NOTE:? Earlier? editions of the S.A. eLettter and the Schizophrenia News Links
are posted at the Google information group for S.A.? (link given above).? Also,?
the S.A. eLetter and Schizophrenia News Links will come to your e-mail inbox
when published by signing up at the S.A. Information Group at Google.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Fact Sheet Information about Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective Disorder--

*? National Institute of Mental Health--description of schizophrenia:
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/healthinformation/schizophreniamenu.cfm
----------------------
* Mental Health America (formerly the National Mental Health Association):
?? --description of schizophrenia:
http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/information/get-info/schizophrenia/schizop\
hrenia-what-you-need-to-know/schizophrenia-what-you-need-to-know
???--description of schizoaffective disorder:
http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/information/get-info/schizophrenia/schizoa\
ffective-disorder
--------------------
*? National Alliance for the Mentally Ill--description of schizophrenia:
http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=By_Illness&Template=/TaggedPage/TaggedP\
ageDisplay.cfm&TPLID=54&ContentID=23036
(Organization now called National Alliance on Mental Illness)










Postal address

SARDAA

P.O. Box 3269 Annapolis, MD 21403

Electronic mail

SA Group Leadership Support (Larry A.) ?larrya@...

General Information: empowerment@...
Webmaster: don@...?


On February 27, 2008 an organizing committee met to form an organization
dedicated to the support of persons who live with schizophrenia and related
disorders.? The committee chose to name the organization "Schizophrenia And
Related Disorders Alliance of America", also to be known as SARDAA.



SARDAA has been organized to continue ongoing support for Schizophrenics
Anonymous, create a national toll-free hotline, provide information via this
website, promote personal stories of recovery and hope, organize a speaker's
bureau of people with expertise about living with the disease, family issues and
care professionals.? Our focus is on providing materials and information that
will assist people in their own personal journey in living with their illness.


We welcome those who share in our concern for and providing of assistance to
help those with schizophrenia and psychotic disorders.? Together, we can make a
difference.



--from John P., member of S.A.
================================================================================\
==========

For more information about
Schizophrenics Anonymous.:

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Pantheon/8320/SA.htm
(Note: Address and phone number of the Mental Health Association in Michigan is
out of date.)

Also at:

http://www.sardaa.org/Programs.htm

----------
For the Google information group for S.A.:
http://groups.google.com/group/schizophrenics-anonymous?hl=en???
------------
For the Yahoo discussion group for S.A.:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/schizophrenics-anonymous?

?

NOTE:? Earlier? editions of the S.A. eLettter and the Schizophrenia News Links
are posted at the Google information group for S.A.? (link given above).? Also,?
the S.A. eLetter and Schizophrenia News Links will come to your e-mail inbox
when published by signing up at the S.A. Information Group at Google.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Fact Sheet Information about Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective Disorder--

*? National Institute of Mental Health--description of schizophrenia:
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/healthinformation/schizophreniamenu.cfm
----------------------
* Mental Health America (formerly the National Mental Health Association):
?? --description of schizophrenia:
http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/information/get-info/schizophrenia/schizop\
hrenia-what-you-need-to-know/schizophrenia-what-you-need-to-know
???--description of schizoaffective disorder:
http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/information/get-info/schizophrenia/schizoa\
ffective-disorder
--------------------
*? National Alliance for the Mentally Ill--description of schizophrenia:
http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=By_Illness&Template=/TaggedPage/TaggedP\
ageDisplay.cfm&TPLID=54&ContentID=23036
(Organization now called National Alliance on Mental Illness)









[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Greetings,

There have regularly been folks in S.A. meetings who have expressed
negative feelings about the 6th step. We usually told them that
they can exercise their right to choose a step other than #6. No
one in the S.A. groups that I was involved with had spirituality
pressed on them. People can remain silent during the Serenity Prayer,
for instance. One fellow that I remember came to the S.A. group for
more than five years, and never chose step #6--and that was fine.
The wording of step #6 in the Blue Booklet was written by someone
who was bordering on agnosticism/atheism. (I don't know if that version
of the wording has been modified in subsequent editions.)

Regards,
--John P.

Our S.A. group met tonight and several members expressed several
different views of step six.
The discussion ended with several different view points on
everything Christianity stands for and the similarity of other
religious viewpoints.
As group leader I tried my best to referee between each point of view
and we actually all came to the agreement that no matter what
religious persuation you are, there is a definite need to recognize
the higher
power, a creator of all things and the power of such a being.
We all left the discussion feeling we had reached a conclusion we all
could live with at least until it comes up again.
I have in the past told our members the politics and religion are off
the table when it comes to discussions in the group but tonight we
read step 6 and something clicked in the group.
Has your group had questions about step 6?  Did you resolve the
questions and has it been a problem in the past?  For the first time
since I started this group, 5 years ago, I feel like we accomplished
our purpose: To help each other get on down the tough road of
surviving schizophrenia.

Here's the summary of the Group Leaders' Manual as it is now.  It
will
have some revisions no doubt, plus more will be added about the kinds
of problems that come up in running S.A. meetings.

If the paragraph lining is uneven, click "Show Message Option," and
then click "Fixed With Font."  That should solve most of the problem.

    Bless you all,  --
John P
===================================


GROUP LEADERS' MANUAL  (Summary by John P.)


         Contents:


--Getting Written Information on How to Form an S.A. Group and Run a
Meeting
--Finding a Place to Have the S.A. Meeting
--Deciding Time Arrangements of Meeting
--Getting the Word Out About the New Meeting
--Advanced Activities in Getting the Word Out
--Preparing for the First Meeting
--The First Meeting of the New S.A. Group and the Meeting Format
--Group Consciousness Meetings and Getting Feedback
--Normal Problems in S.A. Groups


--Getting Written Information on How to Form an S.A. Group and Run a
Meeting


I talked to Joanne V. and she says that she is getting calls every
week from people who want to start S.A. groups.  Normally, the next
step would be for us to make sure that the beginner S.A. group leader
had a copy of the S.A. Blue Booklet to make sure he or she
understands
what S.A. is all about, and also a copy of the  S.A. Group Leaders
Manual to tell the method for how to form a group and how to run a
meeting.  Then a veteran S.A. group leader normally would contact the
beginner leader to provide support over the phone.


During this interim period we don't have the ability to get the Blue
Booklet and the Group Leaders Manual out to people, and we don't have
the resources to enable phone contact with veteran S.A. group
leaders.  So we are improvising.


Beginner S.A. group leaders should read this summary of the Group
Leaders' Manual, as well as keep current with what's happening with
S.A. by reading the S.A. eLetters, posted at the S.A. Information
Group at Google (link below).  Much of the key information that is in
the Blue Booklet can be found at this webpage below
(from "Information
for New Group Leaders" and "Schizophrenics Anonymous-Program
Description" entries at the S.A. Google groups webpages).  The Blue
Booklet summary info is at:


http://groups.google.com/group/schizophrenics-
anonymous/browse_thread...


Joanne will be available for phone support to beginner group leaders.
It's a matter of getting the beginner group leader her phone number,
in a manner that is reasonably privacy safe.  For now, write me at
the
e-mail address below, and then I'll send you Joanne's phone number.
If my e-mail address does not come through in the format you are
reading this in, post your request at the Yahoo S.A. Discussion Group
(link at the bottom of this eLetter) then I'll send you Joanne's
phone
number using  that medium.  My e-mail address is:


jppa...@...


-------------
--Finding a Place to Have the S.A. Meeting


To start, the beginning S.A. group leader learns more about S.A.
through the S.A. Blue Booklet, the S.A. Group Leaders Manual, and
phone support from a veteran S.A. group leader (or during  this
interim period by refering to materials in this Google S.A.
information group).


After this, the next step is to find a place where the S.A. meeting
can take place.  The beginning S.A. group leader approaches an
organization in the community and asks permission  from the top
management there to hold regular meetings in one of their meeting
rooms.  Because S.A. itself doesn't collect dues,  you ask the
organization if you can use the meeting room free of charge.  This
usually works, particularly because meetings always take place in
benevolent non-profit organizations or human service governmental
organizations.


Here are some examples of organizations where S.A. meetings have
taken
place:
Mental Health Association offices (Mental Health America)
Alliance for the Mentally Ill offices (Alliance on Mental Illness)
Clubhouses
Drop-in centers
State psychiatric hospitals
Private hospitals
Churches
Community Mental Health agency offices
Salvation Army centers
Mental health clinics
Non-profit organization offices
Day hospitals


----------------------------------------------------------------------
-----­-----------


--Deciding Time Arrangements of Meeting


Around the same time the  new S.A. group leader is finding a meeting
place for the S.A. group, he or she needs to be coming to some idea
of
what day of the week would be a good time to meet, what time of the
day, and about how long the meeting should be.


The original S.A. meeting in  the Detroit area met for two hours each
week on Sunday afternoons.  There has been a lot of variation on
meeting times since then by the different S.A. groups.  Meetings
almost are always weekly, though in some situations they can be more
than once a week (as in some mental health day programs) or once or
twice a month (as in some of the prison or jail groups).


We have had S.A. meetings on all days of the week with no problem.
Sometimes religious observances are a factor though in this.  Time of
day considerations vary.  Morning groups are often effective in
formal
psychiatric programs, though most S.A. meetings take place in the
afternoon or evening.  Transportation of potential members, work
schedules, and time availability of a meeting room can play a role in
this figuring.


The amount of time for each meeting varies, though the average S.A.
meeting lasts an hour.  Sometimes meetings are scheduled for an hour,
and run over.  The group leader will need to have a sense of the
members'  situations regarding any time run-overs.


Once a meeting time is set and a permission to use a  meeting room is
secured, then it's a matter of deciding what date the first meeting
will be, and then making preparations for the first meeting.


------------------------------------------------------------


--Getting the Word Out About the New Meeting


Once all the arrangements are set for when and where to have the new
S.A. group, it's a matter of letting people know that the new meeting
is going to happen.  There are a number of things that S.A. leaders
have done on this in the past that have worked.


First,  most local newspapers have community calendar type sections
that will print for free small two or three sentence notices of
things
that are happening in the community. Arrange for such a notice to be
put into the paper.  The notice might go like this:


Schizophrenics Anonymous, a free self-help group for those with
schizophrenia-related disorders, has meetings at (location--include
address) on (day of week) at (time).  For information call (group
leader's first name) at (phone number).


After this, try to create a single page flyer about the meeting.  The
flyer would have the same type of information as given above, but
would be appropriate to post in public places.  If you have access to
a computer or know someone who does, that would be a big  help in
making the flyer.  Public libraries often have free access to
computers, and the flyer can be easily created via the word-
processing
software.  Once the flyers is made, copy machines at a library or
elsewhere can be used to make copies of the flyer.



>From here, let community mental health agencies know about your


meeting.  Especially during this period of decentralized referral,
contact your local National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and
Mental Health America (MHA) affiliates and let them know about the
meeting.  These organizations have also gone by the name of Alliance
for the Mentally Ill and Mental Health Association in the past. If
you
have a flyer, give these organizations copies.

The new S.A. group leader will want to make sure that staff and
patients at their Community Mental Health (CMH) program know about
the
meeting.  The CMH is  usually the countywide public program providing
psychiatric and mental health social services to the serious mentally
ill.  The CMH usually runs one or more psychiatric clinics, and often
operates clubhouses and drop-in centers.


The individual group leader will have to gauge how much energy he or
she has to do the organizational work involved in getting the word
out
about the meeting.   At the least, it would be good to have the flyer
about the meeting posted at the main CMH office and the CMH clinics.
Also, it would be good for the flyer to be posted at the clubhouses
and the drop-in centers, and any other of the CMH operating
agencies.


If the group leader has the energy, it would be good to schedule in a
meeting with the appropriate staff leader at the main CMH office in
order to better explain what S.A. is all about, and what the meeting
is trying at accomplish.  Similar meetings might be arranged at the
CMH clinics.  Many of the potential members of the S.A. group would
be
referred by professional CMH staff in the main office and in the
clinics.


As mentioned earlier, it is important for referral purposes for a new
S.A. group leader to contact the local NAMI and NMHA affiliates to
get
the word out about the new S.A. meeting. And, it is also important to
contact the local Community Mental Health agency for similar
purposes.  By this time, it would be good to have a flyer in shape to
post in public places and to have a written notice (at no charge)
placed in the community calendar section of the local newspaper.


The above are sort of basic things that leaders of new S.A. groups
do.  No kinds of group rules are violated if they aren't done, it's
just that  potential members of the new group in the community will
have less ability to know about the new meeting if these sorts of
efforts aren't made. At the same time, this process enables the new
group leader to become better known in the local mental health
community.


Normally, the new group leader would give staff in referral
organizations a copy of the S.A. pamplet and other S.A. literature as
a reference point for our self-help group and its ideas. For the time
being, this will be hard to do because we do not yet have an umbrella
organziation to get the literature out to people. As a partial
solution, please refer the staff people to this Google group for
S.A.,
at this web address:


http://groups.google.com/group/schizophrenics-anonymous


And it particular, this info page on S.A. at Google:


http://groups.google.com/group/schizophrenics-
anonymous/browse_thread...


We recognize, at the same time, that group leaders only have so much
energy, and it is important not to try to overextend one's abilities
and energies in all of this effort of letting the public know about
the meeting.


--Advanced Activities in Getting the Word Out


To some extent, attendance at an S.A. meeting in a locality will
depend on how well it is known in the local mental health community
that the S.A. meeting exists.  The initial activity in this regard
involves the new S.A. leader "getting the word out," as the saying
goes.   Here are some more ideas, if the group leader has the energy
to try them.  Be careful not to burn yourself out in this effort.
Maybe space it out over a period of months.


1.  Post the S.A. meeting flyer at the library, CMH affiliate
organizations, county health department, and other places where
mental
health patients are likely to seek help.  Note that often one must
get
permission from staff before posting flyers at such organizations.


2. Contact area private psychiatric clinics and psychiatric hospitals
about the S.A. meeting.  Perhaps send the flyer with a cover letter.
Send flyer to area private psychiatrists.  Be prepared to explain
what
the meeting is trying to do; in this, focus on the mission statement
of S.A. (found on the S.A. description page at the S.A. Google
group).


3. See if the local radio station or television station will run a
community service spot for free on the S.A. meeting.  Try to keep the
meeting announcement put regularly in the community calendar section
of the newspaper.


4. Ask the local NAMI and NMHA to run a notice of the meeting in
their
newsletter.  Ask other local mental health organizations to carry a
notice of the meeting in their newsletters.  They may say No for
various internal reasons, but you tried for good purposes.


5.  This would be a hard one but if you have the energy you could try
it--Local city councils or town councils often have a public comment
periods on their official meeting agenda.  Perhaps you or someone you
know could announce there that the S.A.  meeting is happening at the
council meeting.  Perhaps you would make  valuable contacts for
helping S.A. members through this type of action.  It would be best
though not to do this if your anonymity would be compromised.  In
regards to this, always use your anonymous name--your first name and
last initial.  My anonymous name is John P.


These are some of the ideas for publicizing a new S.A. meeting.
Throughout this, you should be in contact with your mental health
professional and getting wise advice on when you may be putting too
much energy into S.A.  Everyone has a different level of recovery and
energy level.  The S.A. leadership experience should be a good one,
and the wisdom of your mental health professional should temper
things
to assure this happens.  Avoiding burnout is a priority for you and
the  group as a whole.


  -----------------------------------------------


--Preparing for the First Meeting


Once the new S.A. group leader has done as much as possible to get
the
word out about the S.A. group, what are some of the preparations that
are good to do before the first meeting?  Here are some ideas on
this.


One rather essential idea would be to have about 10 copies made of
the
S.A. steps to be placed on the table at each seat.  This will enable
each member to be able to choose a step when it is his or her turn at
the meeting.  This was the essential piece of literature available at
the first S.A. group in the years 1985-1989.  Copies of the steps can
be made from the S.A. information page at Google. The only other
piece
of S.A. literature available in those early years was a small printed
pamphlet about S.A. that was given to new members. If this pamphlet
is
not available during this interim period, there's no sweat.  The S.A.
information at Google is at this address:


http://groups.google.com/group/schizophrenics-
anonymous/browse_thread...


It would be worth it to make a copy of this entire above document
from
Google.  It has the format of an S.A. meeting that you can use, and
it
has copies of the S.A. Mission Statement, Guiding Principles,
Statement of Purpose, and the Welcoming Statement that can be read at
the meeting.


Another small piece of literature that many group leaders gave to new
members was the one page Schizophrenia Fact Sheet.  If we are unable
to get this literature out during this interim period, a new group
leader can make one if he or she wishes from a similar fact sheet
printed in the S.A. eLetter dated 9-24-07, and posted at the Google
website, at this address:


http://groups.google.com/group/schizophrenics-
anonymous/browse_thread...


Once we have an umbrella organization again, these literature along
with the S.A. Blue Booklet will be available through the postal
mails,
and the preparations for the first meeting of the new group will be a
lot easier
One good idea would be for the new S.A. leaders to read over several
times the suggested format for  S.A. meetings.  This can be found at
the S.A. information webpage at our Google info group at this
address:


http://groups.google.com/group/schizophrenics-
anonymous/browse_thread...


Nearly all of the associated data needed for the meeting can be found
at this webpage, including the S.A. steps, S.A. guiding principles,
S.A. mission statement and statement of purpose, the Welcoming
Statement, and a short description of the S.A. group philosophy.


One area where you might need to improvise is the affirmation
reading.  Most folks do not have copies of the ACOA book on
affirmations.  What can be used instead is a short reading of one to
three affirming quotations of thinkers throughout history.  There are
these types of quotations every week in the S.A. eLetters (posted at
the Google S.A. group).  Also I've compiled a listing of 200 such
quotations, which are available on the web.  To access these 200
quotations (50 quotations about hope and 150 hope-inspiring
quotations), click:


http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Pantheon/8320/HQUOTES.htm


To  access past copies of the S.A. eLetter, where there are other
hope-
inspiring quotations, click:


http://groups.google.com/group/schizophrenics-anonymous


Group leaders may also read the Welcoming Statement at the beginning
of the meeting when there are new members at the meeting.


--The First Meeting of the New S.A. Group and Meeting Format


All of the discussion up to this point in this series of articles has
been leading up to the point when you, as a new S.A. group leader,
have prepared for  first S.A. meeting in your locality.  Last week we
discussed what to do on the day of the meeting, just before the
meeting starts. Now let's say a few words about what to do as the
meeting is about to begin.


In a few words--let it happen.  The new members have by now walked in
and are seated around the table.  It would be good to greet them,
find
out their names, and tell them your anonymous name (first name, last
initial).  If you have some S.A. literature, as brochures or the
Schizophrenia Fact Sheet, you can hand them copies.  It would be
best,
and a good policy in general, to begin the meeting at the time posted
to the public.  Early or late starts are discouraged.  Generally,
your
S.A. meeting will last an hour, but this can vary.


You can begin and proceed with the meeting, as written in the Meeting
Format Sheet.  Simply read what is written.  The S.A. Meeting Format
Sheet can be found at this webpage:


http://groups.google.com/group/schizophrenics-
anonymous/browse_thread...


Don't get flustered if unpredicted things happen at the meeting.
We'll discuss some of the more common "unpredicted events" that can
happen in the coming weeks.  Groups survive these events, and so will
yours. After the meeting, thank everyone for coming, and invite
everyone to come back.  If you have a friendly group of folks,
perhaps
you might wish to meet at a local Burger King or something after the
meeting.


Once you get home after the meeting, silently take stock of what you
have done.  You have taken the effort to organize and S.A. meeting.
You  made it happen!  Be happy with yourself.  You are one of the
folks who are trying to make this world a better place.


--------------------------------------------------


--Group Consciousness Meetings and Getting Feedback


One way to get feedback on how your new S.A. meeting is going is to
ask your members how they feel.  This would be through what we call a
Group Consciousness Meeting.  It is held after the regular S.A.
meeting and any member is invited.  You might even call it a feedback
meeting.  Here, you simply ask members how they think the S.A. is
going.  Members can have a free opportunity to express how they feel,
though you should feel no obligation to implement any suggested
changes or respond to unfair criticism.  Some suggested changes would
be inappropriate for an S.A. meeting.  For instance, if a member
wanted to change the format and group rules to reflect dogmas of a
particular religion he or she belongs to.  Even though not every type
of input a member can make can be responded to, this does give
members
a chance to explain how they feel.  And you will likely find out that
the members like the meeting just the way it is.


I led an S.A. group in a state psychiatric hospital for five years.
In the beginning the meeting was very difficult to manage.  For the
first couple of months a psychiatric nurse was there to watch over
things.  It was useful to have the a feedback meeting after every
formal S.A. meeting there to find out ways that I could have handled
things differently, particularly  as specific situations arose.  I
really saw those feedback meetings as ways I could learn to better
lead the group, and manage things when it got unruly. Soon, the
hospital had confidence that the co-leader and I could run the S.A.
group on our own, and the psychiatric nurse didn't need to come to
the
S.A. meetings any more.  Those feedback meetings, after the regular
S.A. meetings,  really made a difference.


--Normal Problems of S.A. Groups


Low Attendance. Oftentimes the beginning S.A. group leader is quickly
faced with a problem he or she may not have expected--low attendance
at meetings. Group leaders may have had some preconceived notion
ahead
of time about how many people would be coming to the S.A. meeting,
and
it is not uncommon for these expectations to fall short.


Sometimes this problem can be addressed with putting some more effort
into getting the word out about the existing meeting.  Other times
it's a matter of waiting until the word gets out about the meeting.
If attendance is low, group leaders often feel disappointment on
this,
especially after all the work it took to set up the meeting.


Meeting group size can vary, but if there are three or four active
members at a meeting, it is plenty easy for heartfelt sharing to
extend through the usual hour length of the meeting.  Small meeting
sizes can often engender these more in-depth understanding sessions
between group members.  The members of a small group can get to know
one another in a much deeper sense than a larger group usually can.


What usually happens over time is that there will be a solid core of
regulars of the group--people who attend just about every week.  And
then there is a larger set of group members who attend often enough
that the group leader and members remember their names and have some
understanding of how the person is doing (from group sharing).   The
regulars end up knowing each other very very well.  And that's a
byproduct of the people helping people process that goes on in an
S.A.
group--even when the helping is basically sharing of experiences,
feelings, and hopes at the S.A. meetings.


--MORE WILL BE ADDED TO THIS IN COMING MONTHS
=====================================
For more information about
Schizophrenics Anonymous.:
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Pantheon/8320/SA.htm
(Note: Address and phone number of the Mental Health Association in
Michigan is out of date.)
----------
For the Google information group for S.A.:
http://groups.google.com/group/schizophrenics-anonymous?hl=en
------------
For the Yahoo discussion group for S.A.:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/schizophrenics-anonymous


NOTE:  Earlier  editions of the S.A. eLettter and the Schizophrenia
News Links are posted at the Google information group for S.A.  (link
given above).  Also,  the S.A. eLetter and Schizophrenia News Links
will come to your e-mail inbox when published by signing up at the
S.A. Information Group at Google.

In case those links just sent don't work, I'm going to try to post
the entire document--for those trying to set up S.A. groups.  This
entry, and the following entry on the Group Leader's Manual, has the
essential information for setting up a group.   --John P., S.A.
=================

SCHIZOPHRENICS ANONYMOUS
A Brief Description of the Program


Schizophrenics Anonymous is a self-help group for persons with
schizophrenia or a schizophrenia-related disorder. The group was
founded in the Detroit area in July 1985, and as of 1999 there are
Schizophrenics Anonymous (S.A.) groups in over twenty of the states
in
the USA. The central focus of S.A. involves regular support meetings
of its members, as well as a program and philosophy of recovery.


--Statement of Purpose. Schizophrenics Anonymous meetings are
organized and managed by members who have the illness. It is
administered through the Mental Health Association in Michigan, which
serves as its fiscal agent. The purposes of S.A. are:


* To help restore dignity and sense of purpose for persons who are
working for recovery from schizophrenia or related disorders.


* To offer fellowship, positive support, and companionship in order
to
achieve good mental health.


* To improve our own attitudes about our lives and our illness.


* To provide members with the latest information regrading
schizophrenia.


* To encourage members to take positive steps leading to recovery
from
the illness.


--Mission Statement. The mission of Schizophrenics Anonymous is to
add
the element of self-help support to the recovery process of people
suffering from schizophrenia. We hope that this will contribute to
the
well being of S.A. members, and help in coping with the difficulties
imposed by the illness.


--Six Steps of S.A. Over the years members have found that recovery
has been enhanced by applying the six steps of recovery of S.A. These
steps deal with the member's individual movement toward recovery. The
steps are:


1. I SURRENDER...
I admit I need help. I can't do it alone.


2. I CHOOSE...
I choose to be well. I take full responsibility for my choices and
realize that the choices I make directly influence the quality if my
days.


3. I BELIEVE...
I now come to believe that I have been provided with great inner
resources and I will try to use these resources to help myself and
others.


4. I FORGIVE...
I forgive myself for all the mistakes I have made. I also forgive and
release everyone who has injured or harmed me in any way.


5. I UNDERSTAND...
I now understand that erroneous, self-defeating thinking contributes
to my problems, failures, unhappiness, and fears. I am ready to have
my belief system altered so my life can be transformed.


6. I DECIDE...
I make a decision to turn my life over to the care of GOD, AS I
UNDERSTAND HIM, surrendering my will and false beliefs. I ask to be
changed in depth.


--Six Guiding Principles of S.A. In order for the S.A. group to run
well, six guiding principles have been formulated. These principles
deal with the member's relationship to the S.A. program. They are:


1. The only requirement for S.A. membership is the desire to recover
from a schizophrenia related illness.


2. There are no dues for S.A. membership, although donations may be
accepted to cover S.A. group expenses or special events.


3. Everything said at S.A. meetings is confidential.


4. S.A. members should remain anonymous, except those who wish to
work
on special issues.


5. Each group may establish its own meeting format, subject to
approval by central S.A. leadership.


6. Decisions affecting S.A. as a whole are derived from the group
consciousness of its own members; we rely on our Higher Power to work
through this process.


--Group Philosophy. S.A. is a recovery oriented group that encourages
members to find fellowship and help by way of regular meetings and
mutual assistance. The six steps of S.A. recommend a set of attitudes
and actions that will enhance the movement toward recovery from
schizophrenia or from any illness with schizophrenia-related
symptoms.


The group also emphasizes the importance of adhering to the advice of
mental health professionals, especially psychiatrists and case-
workers. For instance, group members are encouraged to take
antipsychotic medications prescribed by their doctors and if
hospitalization is required, members are encouraged to cooperate.
Many
members of the group have also benefitted from psychotherapy.
When problems arise, such as the side effects of medications, members
are advised to make immediate contact with their doctors or mental
health workers. Setbacks in the illness are common, and members are
not stigmatized for having to be re-hospitalized. S.A. is intended to
be supplemental to professional help.


Another point is that S.A. members are accepted to the group at
whatever functioning level they are currently at. The group is non-
judgmental of those who are not functioning highly. Members are
simply
encouraged to do the best they can.


--Format of an S.A. Meeting. There are a number of different ways
that
S.A. meetings are structured. S.A. groups are free to establish their
own format, subject to approval of Central S.A. leadership. In
general, the most important aspect of an S.A. meeting is the sharing
of experiences, feelings, and hopes of the people in attendance.
Also,
members should be free to choose one of the S.A. steps for that week,
and the group leader should verbally support the basic philosophy of
S.A. throughout the meeting. Below is a sample format for a meeting
of
Schizophrenics Anonymous.


SAMPLE FORMAT
A Meeting of Schizophrenics Anonymous


(SHORT DIRECTIONS: The step-by-step format below should help new S.A.
group leaders and others to lead an S.A. meeting. It is recommended
that the person leading the meeting read aloud the portions that are
underlined. The material in brackets [...] are instructions that will
help make the meeting flow better.)


1. "Hello, my name is [your name] and I have schizophrenia. Welcome
to
this meeting of Schizophrenics Anonymous. Let's begin the meeting
with
a short moment of silence." [lasts perhaps 10 or 15 seconds]


2. "Thank you. Now let's go around the table and let each person give
his or her first name."


3. "O.K. Will [person's name] please read the S.A. Statement of
Purpose."


4. "Thank you. Will [person's first name] please read our Six Steps
for Recovery."


5. And will [person's first name] please read the S.A. Guiding
Principles."
[Some groups may wish to read a page from the ACOA book of Daily
Affirmations. If there is a brand new person at the meeting, the
group
may wish to read our "Welcoming Statement to Newcomers."


6. "Now there are a few moments, before our discussion period, if
anyone wishes to make any announcements to the group."


7. "Now we have come to the part of the meeting where each of us can
share with the group how our week has gone, what is on our minds
today, how we are dealing with our symptoms and other challenges, and
which S.A. step we want to work on this week. Everyone will get a
chance to talk and share, and please remember not to interrupt anyone
in the process of talking. When it is your turn, please tell us if
you'd prefer not to hear feedback from group members--that you just
want a chance to talk. Also, keep in mind that almost anything is
permissible to talk about except sex, politics, or specific religious
issues."
[Around the table, each member of the group is given an opportunity
to
talk and choose an S.A. step. This is the bulk of the meeting.]


8. [After all the members are done with their turns to talk, say:]
"Thank you, everyone, for sharing your experiences, feelings, and
hopes with us just now. Just as a reminder, we all need to respect
the
anonymity and confidentiality of the people who are here for this
meeting, and what was said here today. Now may we close the meeting
by
all of us standing up, gathering in a circle, holding hands if you
wish, and saying the Serenity Prayer together:"


Serenity Prayer


God, grant me the serenity--
To accept the things I cannot change,
The courage
To change the things I can,
And the wisdom to know the difference.


9. "Thank you, everyone, for coming. Have a wonderful week. And we
hope to see you at our next meeting.


END OF MEETING


--Welcome Statement to Newcomers. One way to help the newcomers at
S.A. meetings to be at ease is to read the welcome statement below.
Or, a photocopy of the statement can be made, and given to the new
member to be read at home.
WELCOME STATEMENT TO NEWCOMERS


We wish to welcome you as a newcomer to Schizophrenics Anonymous. We
realize that you may not have much experience with self-help groups
and may feel uncomfortable. Please be at ease and try to be open to
this new experience.


One thing we want to express to the newcomer is a sense of HOPE. What
S.A. members have seen over the years is that people with
schizophrenia are capable of making giant strides in recovery, and
are
able to find a place for themselves in this world. Life has promise,
even for those who have been afflicted with our difficult illness.


Please be aware of another thing. Your schizophrenia is not your
fault; it is not some weakness in your character or a personality
deficit. Rather, according to the best information from the
scientific
community, schizophrenia is a brain disorder, involving chemical
imbalances and sometimes tissue irregularities in the brain. About
ninety percent of people with schizophrenia improve with medical
treatment, and new scientific research offers hope for all others
with
the illness.


Please feel at home here. This meeting is here to help sustain you.
You are accepted here. Those who have schizophrenia have a whole
world
of experiences that others don't know about.


For instance, have you heard voices or seen visions? So have other
S.A. members. Have you had grand or strange ideas about your self or
your surroundings? So have other S.A. members. Have you felt that the
CIA or FBI were after you? Or that the television or radio were
talking to you? So have others in S.A. Have you talked to
psychiatrists, have been in mental hospitals, taken antipsychotic
drugs, or had awful side effects from these drugs? So have we. Have
you lost jobs because of schizophrenia, or have been personally
devalued by others because of it? So have we.


We have these things and others in common. In a way, it's like a
homecoming. You are welcome here. We hope to be here each week if you
choose to join us. May many blessings come your way.


Website:


http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Pantheon/8320/SA.htm

=============================
For the Google information group for S.A.:
   http://groups.google.com/group/schizophrenics-anonymous?hl=en
------------
For the Yahoo discussion group for S.A.:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/schizophrenics-anonymous

Dear New S.A. Leaders,

If your are looking for information on how to set up an S.A. group,
please click the hyperlink below.  This webpage has a  sample outline
you can use for running an S.A. group, the six steps of S.A., plus a
other information pertinent for running a group, including
information from the S.A. Blue Booklet.  Click:

http://groups.google.com/group/schizophrenics-
anonymous/browse_thread/thread/922d5d50da27665e

A  summary of the S.A. Group Leader's Manual is also available.  This
has more information on how to set up an S.A. group, how to run a
meeting, and how to deal with some of the problems that sometimes
come up in leading an S.A group.  For this link, click:

http://groups.google.com/group/schizophrenics-
anonymous/browse_thread/thread/0108b20561b33da1


Regards,
--John  P., member of S.A.

========================

For more information about
S.A.:
   http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Pantheon/8320/SA.htm
(Note: Address and phone number of the Mental Health Association in
Michigan is out of date.)
----------
For the Google information group for S.A.:
   http://groups.google.com/group/schizophrenics-anonymous?hl=en
------------
For the Yahoo discussion group for S.A.:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/schizophrenics-anonymous

With the closing down of NS Foundation, is there any website that
gives you information on where the local SA groups are located in the
USA?
Or a website with detailed information on how to start a new SA group?

I had gone to the old website, http://sanonymous.com/
But that only gives the disconnected phone numbers.

I work at the N.J. Self-Help Group Clearinghouse, where we have info
on 5 SA groups that meet in NJ (anyone in NJ can get all the contact
info on the SA groups by either calling us toll-free from anywhere in
New Jersey at 1-800-367-6274, or going to our website
www.njgroups.org and clicking on "Find a Group Near You You," then
clicking on the "Mental Health Consumers" box (the box on the top
right).

We also help those seeking to start an SA group in New Jersey. Years
back, we hosted a trip to NJ and presentations by Joanne Verbanic,
which led to several SA groups getting started.

In any case, best to all.

- Ed

Dear All,

Anyone who doesn't think cannabis can be causative of schizophrenia
should listen to someone who has been there... At the age of 19, as a
junior at Rice University, I was smoking pot nearly every day until one
day I didn't come back down until I landed on the 7th floor of
Methodist Hospital in downtown Houston... That was the beginning of my
battle with schizophrenia... Even now, if I want to get floridly
psychotic, all I have to do is smoke a joint... Even nicotine can make
me ill... Marijuana is not innocuous for someone who is predisposed to
mental illness... Just thought I'd pass that along...

  -- Phil C.

Dear John and all,

You mentioned NAMI in your last newsletter... Why don't you ask NAMI to
be the sponsoring agency for SA??? The local group here really helped
me get started running an SA group here... How 'bout it??? By the way,
their initials now stand for National Alliance ON Mental Illness...

-- Phil

Greetings S.A. Folk,

With the difficulty in getting S.A. Blue Booklets out to new group
leaders, it would seem that the ability to form new groups is
hampered to a large degree.  This is not necessarily the case
though.  In fact,  there is enough information posted at the S.A.
information group at Google to enable a new group leader to set up an
S.A. group.  It would help to have the Blue Booklet and Group Leaders
Manual, but it's not a hard necessity.

Keep in mind, that when Joanne formed the first S.A. group in
Michigan, there was no Blue Booklet and Group Leaders Manual written
yet.  And the first ten groups in Michigan were able to form without
the booklet and leaders manual.  It can be done, and done well.

The only S.A. literature that existed in those early years was a two
page brochure on S.A., financed by the Mental Health Association, and
a one page listing of S.A.'s six steps for recovery.  There is
already more information than that posted at the Google information
page for S.A., including a sample format of an S.A. meeting.  Check
out the posting at the Google group called "Information for New S.A.
Leaders."

We will try to set up arrangements for an umbrella organization to
make the Blue Booklet and Group Leaders Manual available to leaders
and members, but for now there still exists available information to
enable new group leaders to learn enough to set up an S.A. meeting.
This is true especially when  one considers that the most important
aspect of the meeting are a group of members with schizophrenia who
learn to care about each other.
-----------------------------

--Some States Consider Blocking Some Mentally Ill From Voting

A debate is developing among some lawmakers about not allowing some
mentally to vote.  Examples are those under court-ordered
guardianships and those suffering from dementia.  Convicted felons
are not allowed to vote, though those with mental illness usually are
allowed.  The American Bar Association is scheduled to release a
report soon that suggests that only a small segment of the mentally
ill should be blocked from voting.  For story, click:

http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2007/06/states_try_to_d.html

---------------------------

--Website of the Week

The National Mental Health Association now has a new name--Mental
Health America.  So it still has its old initials--MHA.  The website
of Mental Health America is:


http://www.nmha.org/

-------------------------

--Quote of the Week

"Success is falling nine times and getting up ten."

Jon Bon Jovi,  contemporary American rock star

-----------------------

I hope all is well for everyone, and please feel free to post your
concerns at S.A.'s discussion group at Yahoo.  Bye for now.

Regards,
--John P.
======================================

For more information about
S.A.:
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Pantheon/8320/SA.htm
(Note: Address and phone number of the Mental Health Association in
Michigan is out of date.)
----------
For the Google information group for S.A.:
http://groups.google.com/group/schizophrenics-anonymous?hl=en
------------
For the Yahoo discussion group for S.A.:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/schizophrenics-anonymous

Hi Phil,

There's no prohibition of any kind on dating. And some members have
developed long-term relationships from meeting people in S.A.  It
does seem sad when someone approaches another who is new to the
program, especially if the other person doesn't wish that to happen.
I saw it happen once in Joanne's group, and the woman who was
approached quit coming to the meetings.

One kind of general guide of behavior at meetings could be the Golden
Rule, of giving the same respect to others that you would wish to
have yourself. Maybe folks could see that letting a newcomer have
time to get accustomed to the group, and maybe get some recovery
under her/his belt is the most important thing for the new member.
More important than a date. This isn't a hard and fast rule though.
It's more on the lines of everyday kind behavior.

Marriage proposals to the group leader? It's sort of a sensitive
thing to deal with. There needs to be some kind of tactful way of
explaining that this is not the right way to relate to the group
leader. When done nicely, feelings don't get hurt (most of the time
that is case.

Thanks for keeping S.A. alive in Utica.
Reagrds,
--John P.

Dear John and all,

Are SA members allowed to date each other??? One young woman in our
group "hit on" a new male member right after he walked in the door! And
another woman in our group asked me to marry her the other day!!!
Please inform!!! Other than that, our SA group is going well...

All best,

Phil C.
Group Leader Utica, NY

S.A. eLetter (6-25-07)

Greetings S.A. folk,

        Well Schizophrenics Anonymous  is in a period of transition
now.  Because of funding problems, the National Schizophrenia
Foundation has closed down, and we are now looking for a new umbrella
organization.  There are some possibilities on this--mental health
organizations who say they might be willing to provide this service.
However this sort of thing has to be approved by the boards of
directors of these organizations, and that takes time.
       On the short run these changes impact on our current ability to
distribute S.A. literature, fund our print budget, and handle phone
and mail inquiries about S.A.  On a broader scale, the situation
impacts on S.A. group development and Central S.A.'s ability to
communicate  with group leaders.  Hopefully these problems will be
resolved once we have a new umbrella organization.
      But in the meantime S.A. is alive and well.  What has happened
with the NSF should have no impact on the operating of S.A. groups
around the country.  S.A. is people-helping-people by way of a self
help group for those with schizophrenia.  This has not changed a bit.
       The S.A. groups are a voluntary operation, so funding problems
for S.A.'s umbrella organization don't need to  weigh down the
individual groups.  Care and concern within the S.A. group will go on
because what happens in the group is about heart not money.
       Please let me know how you feel about these things at the Yahoo
discussion group for S.A. at this address:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/schizophrenics-anonymous
      In the meantime, take care and continue caring.  It's nice to
have the S.A. eLetter going again, and will keep you informed through
this vehicle.
      Blessings to you,
      --John P.
------------------------------

--Health Information through the New Federal Government Website

       The federal government has set up a new website called
Healthfinder in order to help people access objective and accurate
information on health problems.  You can reach Healthfinder via the
About.com website below.  About.com is an interesting website itself,
written carefully on many subjects, and affiliated with the New York
Times Company.  The link below takes you to the About.com page on
mental health care.  So you may wish the explore this material.  To
check this out, click:

http://mentalhealth.about.com/library/weekly/aa022502a.htm

---------------------------------

--Quote of the Day

      "'Tis the most tender part of love, each other to forgive."

        --John  Sheffield (1648-1721),  English nobleman and writer
------------------------------------

To access editions of the S.A. eLetter, Schizophrenia News Links,
general information on Schizophrenics Anonymous, and information on
schizophrenia, go to the Schizophrenics Anonymous information group
at Google at this web address:

http://groups.google.com/group/schizophrenics-anonymous?hl=en

I am glad to have recieved the e-mail about this group.  I am in
Columbus, Ohio.  For the short term our only concern about the closing
of the NSF is how to get blue books.  We did not have that much contact
with the NSF on a daily basis.  For the long term we are concerned
about what will happen without the NSF and do not know how that will
affect us.  Please let me know how to get more blue books.  We are in
the process of starting a new group at the state hospital and
desperately need blue books.  Also our old blue books are beginning to
wear out due to use.

Darrell Herrmann
Deherrmann@...

I have just received the invitation to re-join the SA groups that John
P has sent me.

I am glad to be in contact again.

Greetings,

Jose Angel

Greetings All,

I wanted to let everyone know that Schizophrenics Anonymous still
alive and well, despite the end of the National Schizophrenia
Foundation.  Have been in contact with Joanne V. regularly on how to
adjust to the new situation.  Things will work out.

To begin,  S.A.members or anyone can receive the new S.A. eLetters,
the Schizophrenia News Links, and other info on the illness via
Google.  You have the option of either receiving them via your e-mail
or reading the info by coming the the S.A. announcement group at
Google.  To do this, click:

http://groups.google.com/group/schizophrenics-anonymous?hl=en

This above webgroup will be for information only, so only S.A.
leadership will send info via this site.

However, we also have an S.A. discusion group set up at Yahoo.  Here
S.A. members or anyone can post messages and have discusions about
things that concern them.  For this S.A. discusion group, click:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/schizophrenics-anonymous

It's nice to be in contact with you again, and will try to answer
your questions at the e-mail address below.

--John P., member of S.A.
jpparle@...

Schizophrenics Anonymous is a self-help group for persons with
schizophrenia or a schizophrenia-related disorder. The group was
founded in the Detroit area in July 1985, and as of 1999 there are
Schizophrenics Anonymous (S.A.) groups in over twenty of the states
in the USA. The central focus of S.A. involves regular support
meetings of its members, as well as a program and philosophy of
recovery.






--Statement of Purpose. Schizophrenics Anonymous meetings are
organized and managed by members who have the illness. It is
administered through the Mental Health Association in Michigan, which
serves as its fiscal agent. The purposes of S.A. are:




* To help restore dignity and sense of purpose for persons who are
working for recovery from schizophrenia or related disorders.




* To offer fellowship, positive support, and companionship in order
to achieve good mental health.




* To improve our own attitudes about our lives and our illness.




* To provide members with the latest information regrading
schizophrenia.




* To encourage members to take positive steps leading to recovery
from the illness.






--Mission Statement. The mission of Schizophrenics Anonymous is to
add the element of self-help support to the recovery process of
people suffering from schizophrenia. We hope that this will
contribute to the well being of S.A. members, and help in coping with
the difficulties imposed by the illness.






--Six Steps of S.A. Over the years members have found that recovery
has been enhanced by applying the six steps of recovery of S.A. These
steps deal with the member's individual movement toward recovery. The
steps are:




1. I SURRENDER...

I admit I need help. I can't do it alone.




2. I CHOOSE...

I choose to be well. I take full responsibility for my choices and
realize that the choices I make directly influence the quality if my
days.




3. I BELIEVE...

I now come to believe that I have been provided with great inner
resources and I will try to use these resources to help myself and
others.




4. I FORGIVE...

I forgive myself for all the mistakes I have made. I also forgive and
release everyone who has injured or harmed me in any way.




5. I UNDERSTAND...

I now understand that erroneous, self-defeating thinking contributes
to my problems, failures, unhappiness, and fears. I am ready to have
my belief system altered so my life can be transformed.




6. I DECIDE...

I make a decision to turn my life over to the care of GOD, AS I
UNDERSTAND HIM, surrendering my will and false beliefs. I ask to be
changed in depth.








--Six Guiding Principles of S.A. In order for the S.A. group to run
well, six guiding principles have been formulated. These principles
deal with the member's relationship to the S.A. program. They are:




1. The only requirement for S.A. membership is the desire to recover
from a schizophrenia related illness.




2. There are no dues for S.A. membership, although donations may be
accepted to cover S.A. group expenses or special events.




3. Everything said at S.A. meetings is confidential.




4. S.A. members should remain anonymous, except those who wish to
work on special issues.




5. Each group may establish its own meeting format, subject to
approval by central S.A. leadership.




6. Decisions affecting S.A. as a whole are derived from the group
consciousness of its own members; we rely on our Higher Power to work
through this process.






--Group Philosophy. S.A. is a recovery oriented group that encourages
members to find fellowship and help by way of regular meetings and
mutual assistance. The six steps of S.A. recommend a set of attitudes
and actions that will enhance the movement toward recovery from
schizophrenia or from any illness with schizophrenia-related symptoms.




The group also emphasizes the importance of adhering to the advice of
mental health professionals, especially psychiatrists and case-
workers. For instance, group members are encouraged to take
antipsychotic medications prescribed by their doctors and if
hospitalization is required, members are encouraged to cooperate.
Many members of the group have also benefitted from psychotherapy.

When problems arise, such as the side effects of medications, members
are advised to make immediate contact with their doctors or mental
health workers. Setbacks in the illness are common, and members are
not stigmatized for having to be re-hospitalized. S.A. is intended to
be supplemental to professional help.




Another point is that S.A. members are accepted to the group at
whatever functioning level they are currently at. The group is non-
judgmental of those who are not functioning highly. Members are
simply encouraged to do the best they can.






--Format of an S.A. Meeting. There are a number of different ways
that S.A. meetings are structured. S.A. groups are free to establish
their own format, subject to approval of Central S.A. leadership. In
general, the most important aspect of an S.A. meeting is the sharing
of experiences, feelings, and hopes of the people in attendance.
Also, members should be free to choose one of the S.A. steps for that
week, and the group leader should verbally support the basic
philosophy of S.A. throughout the meeting. Below is a sample format
for a meeting of Schizophrenics Anonymous.







SAMPLE FORMAT


A Meeting of Schizophrenics Anonymous




(SHORT DIRECTIONS: The step-by-step format below should help new S.A.
group leaders and others to lead an S.A. meeting. It is recommended
that the person leading the meeting read aloud the portions that are
underlined. The material in brackets [...] are instructions that will
help make the meeting flow better.)




1. "Hello, my name is [your name] and I have schizophrenia. Welcome
to this meeting of Schizophrenics Anonymous. Let's begin the meeting
with a short moment of silence." [lasts perhaps 10 or 15 seconds]




2. "Thank you. Now let's go around the table and let each person give
his or her first name."




3. "O.K. Will [person's name] please read the S.A. Statement of
Purpose."




4. "Thank you. Will [person's first name] please read our Six Steps
for Recovery."




5. And will [person's first name] please read the S.A. Guiding
Principles."

[Some groups may wish to read a page from the ACOA book of Daily
Affirmations. If there is a brand new person at the meeting, the
group may wish to read our "Welcoming Statement to Newcomers."




6. "Now there are a few moments, before our discussion period, if
anyone wishes to make any announcements to the group."




7. "Now we have come to the part of the meeting where each of us can
share with the group how our week has gone, what is on our minds
today, how we are dealing with our symptoms and other challenges, and
which S.A. step we want to work on this week. Everyone will get a
chance to talk and share, and please remember not to interrupt anyone
in the process of talking. When it is your turn, please tell us if
you'd prefer not to hear feedback from group members--that you just
want a chance to talk. Also, keep in mind that almost anything is
permissible to talk about except sex, politics, or specific religious
issues."

[Around the table, each member of the group is given an opportunity
to talk and choose an S.A. step. This is the bulk of the meeting.]




8. [After all the members are done with their turns to talk, say:]

"Thank you, everyone, for sharing your experiences, feelings, and
hopes with us just now. Just as a reminder, we all need to respect
the anonymity and confidentiality of the people who are here for this
meeting, and what was said here today. Now may we close the meeting
by all of us standing up, gathering in a circle, holding hands if you
wish, and saying the Serenity Prayer together:"




Serenity Prayer




God, grant me the serenity--

To accept the things I cannot change,

The courage

To change the things I can,

And the wisdom to know the difference.






9. "Thank you, everyone, for coming. Have a wonderful week. And we
hope to see you at our next meeting.





END OF MEETING








--Welcome Statement to Newcomers. One way to help the newcomers at
S.A. meetings to be at ease is to read the welcome statement below.
Or, a photocopy of the statement can be made, and given to the new
member to be read at home.


WELCOME STATEMENT TO NEWCOMERS




We wish to welcome you as a newcomer to Schizophrenics Anonymous. We
realize that you may not have much experience with self-help groups
and may feel uncomfortable. Please be at ease and try to be open to
this new experience.




One thing we want to express to the newcomer is a sense of HOPE. What
S.A. members have seen over the years is that people with
schizophrenia are capable of making giant strides in recovery, and
are able to find a place for themselves in this world. Life has
promise, even for those who have been afflicted with our difficult
illness.




Please be aware of another thing. Your schizophrenia is not your
fault; it is not some weakness in your character or a personality
deficit. Rather, according to the best information from the
scientific community, schizophrenia is a brain disorder, involving
chemical imbalances and sometimes tissue irregularities in the brain.
About ninety percent of people with schizophrenia improve with
medical treatment, and new scientific research offers hope for all
others with the illness.




Please feel at home here. This meeting is here to help sustain you.
You are accepted here. Those who have schizophrenia have a whole
world of experiences that others don't know about.




For instance, have you heard voices or seen visions? So have other
S.A. members. Have you had grand or strange ideas about your self or
your surroundings? So have other S.A. members. Have you felt that the
CIA or FBI were after you? Or that the television or radio were
talking to you? So have others in S.A. Have you talked to
psychiatrists, have been in mental hospitals, taken antipsychotic
drugs, or had awful side effects from these drugs? So have we. Have
you lost jobs because of schizophrenia, or have been personally
devalued by others because of it? So have we.




We have these things and others in common. In a way, it's like a
homecoming. You are welcome here. We hope to be here each week if you
choose to join us. May many blessings come your way.

Below are webpages with short descriptions of schizophrenia from
three leading organizations on the subject of mental illness in the
USA.  Further below are treatment guidelines for schizophrenia by the
American Psychiatric Association.  After that is the diagnostic
criteria for schizophrenia  used in the United States.  Click
highlighted text to access the information.

*  National Institute of Mental Health--description of schizophrenia:

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/healthinformation/schizophreniamenu.cfm

----------------------

* Mental Health America (formerly the National Mental Health
Association):

    --description of schizophrenia:

http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/information/get-
info/schizophrenia/schizophrenia-what-you-need-to-know/schizophrenia-
what-you-need-to-know

    --description of schizoaffective disorder:

http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/information/get-
info/schizophrenia/schizoaffective-disorder

--------------------

*  National Alliance for the Mentally Ill--description of
schizophrenia:

http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?
Section=By_Illness&Template=/TaggedPage/

----------------------------

*  American Psychiatric Association:

     --Treatment guidelines for Schizophrenia  (requires PDF
capability)

http://www.psych.org/psych_pract/treatg/pg/Schizophrenia2ePG_05-15-
06.pdf

--------------------------

*  Diagnostic Criteria for Schizophrenia (used in USA):


Characteristic symptoms: Two (or more) of the following, each present
for a significant portion of time during a 1-month period (or less if
successfully treated):
delusions
hallucinations
disorganized speech (e.g., frequent derailment or incoherence)
grossly disorganized or catatonic behavior
negative symptoms, i.e., affective flattening, alogia, or avolition
Note: Only one Criterion A symptom is required if delusions are
bizarre or hallucinations consist of a voice keeping up a running
commentary on the person's behavior or thoughts, or two or more
voices conversing with each other.
Social/occupational dysfunction: For a significant portion of the
time since the onset of the disturbance, one or more major areas of
functioning such as work, interpersonal relations, or self-care are
markedly below the level achieved prior to the onset (or when the
onset is in childhood or adolescence, failure to achieve expected
level of interpersonal, academic, or occupational achievement).
C.     Duration: Continuous signs of the disturbance persist for at
least 6 months. This 6-month period must include at least 1 month of
symptoms (or less if successfully treated) that meet Criterion A
(i.e., active-phase symptoms) and may include periods of prodromal or
residual symptoms. During these prodromal or residual periods, the
signs of the disturbance may be manifested by only negative symptoms
or two or more symptoms listed in Criterion A present in an
attenuated form (e.g., odd beliefs, unusual perceptual experiences).
D.     Schizoaffective and Mood Disorder exclusion: Schizoaffective
Disorder and Mood Disorder With Psychotic Features have been ruled
out because either (1) no Major Depressive, Manic, or Mixed Episodes
have occurred concurrently with the active-phase symptoms; or (2) if
mood episodes have occurred during active-phase symptoms, their total
duration has been brief relative to the duration of the active and
residual periods.
E.      Substance/general medical condition exclusion: The
disturbance is not due to the direct physiological effects of a
substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or a general medical
condition.
F.      Relationship to a Pervasive Developmental Disorder: If there
is a history of Autistic Disorder or another Pervasive Developmental
Disorder, the additional diagnosis of Schizophrenia is made only if
prominent delusions or hallucinations are also present for at least a
month (or less if successfully treated).

----------------------------------------------------------------------
----------

Diagnostic Criteria of Schizophrenia Subtypes
Paranoid Type
A type of Schizophrenia in which the following criteria are met:
Preoccupation with one or more delusions or frequent auditory
hallucinations.
None of the following is prominent: disorganized speech, disorganized
or catatonic behavior, or flat or inappropriate affect.
Catatonic Type
A type of Schizophrenia in which the clinical picture is dominated by
at least two of the following:
motoric immobility as evidenced by catalepsy (including waxy
flexibility) or stupor
excessive motor activity (that is apparently purposeless and not
influenced by external stimuli)
extreme negativism (an apparently motiveless resistance to all
instructions or maintenance of a rigid posture against attempts to be
moved) or mutism
peculiarities of voluntary movement as evidenced by posturing
(voluntary assumption of inappropriate or bizarre postures),
stereotyped movements, prominent mannerisms, or prominent grimacing
echolalia or echopraxia
Disorganized Type
A type of Schizophrenia in which the following criteria are met:
All of the following are prominent:
disorganized speech
disorganized behavior
flat or inappropriate affect
The criteria are not met for Catatonic Type.
Undifferentiated Type
A type of Schizophrenia in which symptoms that meet Criterion A are
present, but the criteria are not met for the Paranoid, Disorganized,
or Catatonic Type.
Residual Type
A type of Schizophrenia in which the following criteria are met:
Absence of prominent delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech,
and grossly disorganized or catatonic behavior.
There is continuing evidence of the disturbance, as indicated by the
presence of negative symptoms or two or more symptoms listed in
Criterion A for Schizophrenia, present in an attenuated form (e.g.,
odd beliefs, unusual perceptual experiences).

  From the Internet Mental Health website:
http://www.mentalhealth.com/dis1/p21-ps01.html
From source material in the DSM-IV by the American Psychiatric
Association
--------------------------------------------------
For more information on Schizophrenics Anonymous, click:
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Pantheon/8320/SA.htm
-----------------------
For Schizophrenics Anonymous on the Internet Usenet:
http://groups.google.com/group/schizophrenics-anonymous?hl=en