• Provides Support and Education for people with Schizophrenia and other serious and persistent mental illnesses, their families and friends.
• Increases Public Awareness and Understanding of Schizophrenia and other serious and persistent mental illness.
• Advocates on behalf of people with Schizophrenia and other serious persistent mental illness for better legislation and services.
• Promotes Research into the causes, treatment and ultimate cure of schizophrenia.

Mission Statement:

“To improve the quality of life for those affected by schizophrenia and psychosis through education, support programs, public policy and research”

Schizophrenia Societies join forces on new mission statement to promote improved quality of life

The Schizophrenia Society of Canada and the Provincial Schizophrenia Societies across the country are proud to announce the launch of a new, joint mission statement that promotes improved quality of life for individuals and families affected by schizophrenia.

The new mission inspires the societies to improve the quality of life for those affected by schizophrenia and psychosis through education, support programs, public policy and research.

“This exciting new mission statement recognizes the significant changes in our understanding of and approaches to mental illness over the last 20 years,” said Chris Summerville, Interim Chief Executive Officer of the SSC.

New shared mission statement offers hope.

The 2009 Moving Lives Forward Scholarship was a great success this year.  This year we broke all records with the number of applications received. In total we received over 25 applications, all of them from very qualified individuals from all over the province. It was a very difficult decision to narrow it down and choose just 3 but our Awards Committee did an  excellent job.

An award of $1000.00 was given to each of the 3 winners for 2009.  They are Sheena    Tremeer of Saskatoon, Chris Kambeitz of Weyburn and Joanne Maisoneauve-Speers of Martensville.

Sheena Tremeer’s goal is to become a Music Therapist.  She is currently enrolled at the    U of S in Saskatoon taking her prerequisite classes in order to attend Capillano University in Vancouver, BC. Sheena says that she loves music and wants to share it with other people to have a positive impact on peoples lives. She says it has helped her to grow and cope with life and wants to assist others to be able to do the same.

Chris Kambeitz is currently enrolled at the Kelsey SIAST campus in Saskatoon and is    taking his Heavy Equipment and Truck Transport Technician Certificate. Chris has been quite involved with the Canadian Mental Health Association in Weyburn and has, through them, and working with his family on the farm, realized again a life long interest in mechanics. He says that having a mental illness has been a challenging and humbling experience and is very excited at having been accepted into this SIAST program.

Joanne Maisonneuve-Speers is currently enrolled  in the Bachelor of Arts Program at the University of Saskatchewan.  She is a single mom majoring in Sociology and Psychology. Joanne’s goal is to work in the area of transitioning to employment, delivering life skills and community liaison work.  Joanne currently holds a Life Skills Coach certificate from Assiniboine Community College in Brandon.  With these classes she is well on her way to accomplishing her goal. She says that her decision to move from the back of the classroom to the front again excites her and gives her the opportunity to give back armed with knowledge of mental health issues, overcoming stigma, managing illness and implementing coping skills in daily life.

To each of this years winners of the scholarship we say congratulations and wish you the best with your goals and dreams. You were all very deserving of the scholarship!

Thanks to Eli Lilly Pharmaceuticals for their donation of $3000.00 again this year.  Their ongoing support of this scholarship over the years has helped many people with their    educational goals.

Click here to read the most recent edition of our provincial newsletter

infocus – December 2009

People with significant, long-term disabilities no longer have to rely on social assistance following the launch of the province’s new Saskatchewan Assured Income for Disability program (SAID).

More than 3,000 people who are eligible for the new program have been invited to enroll by the Ministry of Social Services, as part of the program’s implementation, with the first benefits to be paid for the month of December. So far, more than 2,000 people have already enrolled in the new program.

“For the first time, Saskatchewan people with long-term disabilities have their own separate income program,” Social Services Minister Donna Harpauer said. “As requested by the disability community, the new program has fewer reporting requirements and will be less intrusive than social assistance.”

The SAID program was designed in collaboration with members of the disability community and will provide an income for people with significant, long-term disabilities that is separate from the Saskatchewan Assistance Program (SAP). Financial benefits and amounts will remain the same as those currently provided through SAP. However, people enrolled in SAID will not have to re-verify their disability status on a routine basis. Enrollees in SAID will also continue to receive Supplementary Health Benefits.

Participation in the new program is voluntary. People on social assistance with significant, well-documented, long-term disabilities are eligible for SAID, and have been invited to enroll, if they:

• live in residential care or family care settings with an assessed level of care of two or higher; or
• live in a Social Services or Mental Health Services group home.

 A Program Implementation Advisory Team (PIAT), comprised of members of the disability community, has been established to provide advice on the implementation and development of the new program. PIAT members continue to meet with agencies and clients to gather feedback on the processes being used for the implementation of SAID. The team is also working with ministry officials to draft terms of reference for a staff training strategy, and for an assessment process that may be utilized in the future development of SAID.

 For more information, please call 1-888-567-SAID (7243) or visit the Ministry of Social Services website at http://www.socialservices.gov.sk.ca/SAID.

Sunday – September 20, 2009 in Saskatoon

Registration and Walk

1:00 – 3:30 pm

Join us at the Diefenbaker Centre

University of SK. Campus; Saskatoon

Prizes for the most pledges collected & largest team!! For each $350.00 you collect, you will be entered in a draw for “The Gift of Flight: From West Jet” prize value over $4000.00.

Come out and enjoy a wonderful afternoon in the park!!

Team Registration and pledge forms are available through the Saskatoon Chapter office; 304-506 25th Street East.  Saskatoon, SK

Phone 306-374-2224

Donations can be made on line: click the Canada Helps Button on the right and designate donations to the Saskatoon Chapter.

 Look for this button on the right to donate

final walk poster 2009Click here to see the poster

Final Pledge form 2009Click here for the Saskatoon Pledge form

Join us for a great afternoon walk around Wascana Lake.  Help us raise awareness of schizophrenia along with raising funds for our much needed programs, by joining our walk!

Sunday, August 30th, 2009: Wascana Park Band Stand

Registration and Walk 1:00 – 3:00pm

Come out and enjoy a great day in Wascana Park! 

Prizes for the most pledges collected!

Collect $200.00 or more and be entered in a draw for ” The Gift of Flight: From West Jet” prize value over $4000.00

Steps and strides for Schizophrenia(poster)  Click here to see the 2009 poster for the Regina Walk.

Pledge Form 2009  Click here for the Pledge form and more information on our walk.

To make a donation on line please click the Canada Helps button to the right and designate donations to the General Fund. This will make sure your money goes to the Steps and Strides Walk.  Thank you for your support!!

 look for this button to donate!

Led by counselor, stand-up comic, and author of The Happy Neurotic: How Fear and Angst Can Lead To Happiness and Success, David Granirer. 

Stand Up For Mental Health teaches stand up comedy to people with mental illness as a way of building confidence and fighting public stigma, prejudice, and discrimination.  At the Knox United Church in Saskatoon. Doors open at 6:30, Performance 7:30. Tickets are $10.00 in advance and $15.00 at the door. Tickets are available at Crocus Co-op, McNally Robinson, Turning the Tide, and the Society office in Saskatoon.

Call 306-374-2224 for more information.

Stand up for Mental Health POSTER

The Saskatoon Chapter is hoasting a fantastic Fundraiser  for programs and services in Sasksatoon.  It will be at the Off Broadway Dinner Theatre 639 Main St.; Saskatoon. 6:00 cocktails, 6:30 dinner, pasta supper and belly dance performance.

Tickets are $20.00 each and can be purchased through the Saskatoon Office.

Call 306-374-2224 for more information or to purchase tickets

Beginning this fall, thousands of Saskatchewan people will no longer need to depend on social assistance for their basic living costs, following the announcement today of a new income support program for people with disabilities.

“Our government is taking action to improve the lives of people with disabilities,” Social Services Minister Donna Harpauer said. “For years, people with disabilities and their organizations have been telling government that they needed a new, dignified, less-intrusive income support program. In this year’s Throne Speech, our government promised to ensure that people with disabilities in Saskatchewan receive the support they need, and today we are keeping that promise.”

The new program will begin on October 1, 2009, when the first group of recipients – an estimated 3,000 Saskatchewan people with disabilities – will be enrolled and begin to receive benefits. The initial group will be individuals currently on social assistance with long-standing and well-documented disabilities. Over time, enrollment in the new program is expected to reach between 8,000 and 10,000 people.

“We’re pleased that the new program will be collaborative, non-intrusive, and impact based, drawing upon many of the key principles recommended by the Disability Income Task Team,” Disability Income Task Team Community Co-chair Merv Bender said. “The disability community greatly appreciates having the opportunity to work collectively with government on the development of this historic new program. The work and direction of the task team was confirmed by our many community discussions with people with disabilities, their families and with other Saskatchewan citizens.”

Over the winter, the joint community/government Disability Income Task Team met with more than 400 stakeholders. They recently provided Minister Harpauer with recommendations based on these consultations. The new program, which will be separate from the existing Saskatchewan Assistance Program, will be based on the goals and principles recommended by the task team, including:

• To assure a socially acceptable income for people with disabilities – recognizing the range of additional costs associated with disability; and
• To encourage and empower people with disabilities to participate as fully as possible in community life.

“The announcement of this historic new income replacement program is a turning point for people with disabilities in Saskatchewan,” Disability Income Support Coalition (DISC) Chairperson Judy Hannah said. “The new program is a testament to all of the hard work by government, DISC and by the members of the Disability Income Task Team on this important issue. DISC is pleased to continue our collaboration with the provincial government as this process moves forward.”

A new Community Advisory Committee will be created to continue the successful collaborative approach between government and disability stakeholders.

One of the committee’s first priorities will be to work with the ministry on establishing criteria to determine who is eligible for the new program, and to ensure that the new process is fair, effective and fully considers the impact on the individuals enrolling in the program.

The committee will also support the work of the ministry on other details of the new program prior to the October 1 implementation date including:

• reduced reporting requirements;
• revised benefit structure;
• staff training;
• new service delivery approaches; and
• a new program name and separate identity.

“Giving people a greater opportunity to contribute to their well-being is an important factor in helping them to build self-reliance,” Harpauer said. “As a government, we are committed to doing our part to ensure people with disabilities participate fully in our society.”

The report by the Disability Income Task Team and information gathered during the community consultations is available on the Ministry of Social Services website at www.socialservices.gov.sk.ca. More information about the new income support program will be available as work continues. Clients may contact their local Social Services office if they have any questions

Please find below the web link to the presentation and questions regarding the income program for people with disabilities that were distributed at all the community discussions.  If you were unable to attend the recent community discussions in Regina, Saskatoon and PA, and would like to respond to these questions please feel free to do so.

Please note that comments and feed back to these questions need to be received by April 17, 2009.

You can forward your written responses by mail, email or fax to:

Disability Income Support Task Team
c/o Office of Disability Issues
1920 Broad Street
REGINA SK  S4P 3V6

Email: odi@gov.sk.ca

Fax: 1-306-787-3650

Thank you,

Office of Disability Issues
Province of Saskatchewan
1-306-787-7283 Tel/TTY
1-877-915-7468 Toll Free

http://www.socialservices.gov.sk.ca/Income-Prog-Disabilities

DISCRIMINATION AND STIGMA PLAGUE CANADIANS WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA

“While 92% of Canadians surveyed have heard of schizophrenia, most do not understand what it is or its symptoms. In fact, the majority confuse it with split personality disorder,” said Chris Summerville, CEO, Schizophrenia Society of Canada. “Misconceptions such as these lead to negative stereotyping and stigma towards people living with schizophrenia.”

The report examines how stigma negatively impacts the lives of people living with schizophrenia. Stigma causes gradual social isolation, making it harder for them to seek the help and treatment they need to manage their illness.

The report found that people with schizophrenia also experienced discrimination within the Canadian health care system.

According to a national report released today by the Schizophrenia Societies across Canada, 60% of Canadians assume that people living with schizophrenia are likely to act violently toward others.

Schizophrenia in Canada: A National Report calls on Canadians, health care professionals and government to support a National Mental Health Strategy that addresses the disparities and inequities faced daily by those living with schizophrenia and their family members.

For the full report please click these links

• Report
• Provincial Supplement