Family Organizations Involved with Mental Health

Maintained by Myron Pulier

Expanded from Johnson, Dale L: "Families around the world form organizations for people with mental illness." Innovations & Research 3(4):25-30, 1994.


Country List

  • International
  • Australia
  • Bermuda
  • Belgium
  • Canada
  • Germany
  • Holland
  • India
  • International
  • Ireland
  • Israel
  • Italy
  • Japan
  • New Zealand
  • Russia
  • South Africa
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • Ukraine
  • United Kingdom
  • United States
  • Uraguay
  • World-wide

    International

  • World Federation for Families and Friends of the Mentally Ill <--go to Country List

    Australia

  • Canberra Manic Depressive Support Group Meets on the third Monday in each month at Phillip Health Centre.

  • Association of Relatives and Friends of the Emotionally and Mentally Ill [ARAFEMI]
  • Mood Disturbance Prevention [MDP] Meets at the Queensland Association for Mental Health, Friendship House 20 Balfour St., New Farm 4005

  • Even Keel Manic Depressive Support Association Groups meet at Mirrabooka, Armadale, Fremantle and Midland on a monthly basis.

  • Schizophrenia Australia Foundation [SFA] 10,000 members. 7 branches in various states run support groups for family members and some offer drop-in centers.

    <--go to Country List


    Bermuda

  • Bermuda Schizophrenia Society 100 members.

    <--go to Country List


    Belgium

  • Similes Membership consists of 3,500 relatives and friends of people with schizophrenia. There are 37 affiliated groups. State funding is supplemented by dues. Provides support groups, information and assistance with civil rights actions.

    <--go to Country List


    Canada

  • The Alliance for the Mentally Ill 500 members

  • Parents et Amis de Personnes Atteintes de Maladie Mentale [l'APAPSMSO]
  • Schizophrenia Society of Canada 3,500 members distributed among 100 groups across Canada.

    <--go to Country List


    Germany

  • Bundesverband der Angehoerigen psychisch Kranker 2,500 relatives of people with major mental illness belong to 600 groups throughout Germany.

    <--go to Country List


    Holland

  • Ypsilon Dedicated to schizophrenia. Affiliation of 50 groups with a total of 5,000 members.

  • Labyrint 515 members in 15 groups

  • Perspektief 120 members. Religious emphasis, receives some funding from churches.

    <--go to Country List


    India

  • An Alliance for the Mentally Ill The 120 members are relatives of people with mental illness.

  • AMEND <--go to Country List

    Ireland

  • The Schizophrenia Association of Ireland 900 people with schizophrenia and their relative in 25 affiliate groups. Mainly government-funded.

    <--go to Country List


    Israel

  • ENOSH 6,000 members. Government funded for the most part.

    <--go to Country List


    Italy

  • PSICHE2000 PSICHE2000 is an Italy-wide network of non-profit associations with no political or religious affiliations, made up largely of members of the families of persons with NBDs (neurobiological disorders), and volunteers.

    <--go to Country List


    Japan

  • Zenkaren For families of people with mental illness, has 130,000 members. <--go to Country List

    New Zealand

  • Manic Depressive Society, Inc.
  • The Schizophrenia Fellowship 2,100 members in 20 groups, focus on schizophrenia.

    <--go to Country List


    Russia

  • Awakening 250 members in 4 groups. Funded by dues.

    <--go to Country List


    South Africa

  • Cape Support for Mental Health 80 members.

    <--go to Country List


    Spain

  • FEAFES 8,000 members in 50 groups

    <--go to Country List


    Sweden

  • RIKS-IFS 3,000 members in 80 groups limited to schizophrenia.

    <--go to Country List


    Switzerland

  • VASK 1,000 members in 6 groups for relatives of people with schizophrenia and interested professionals.

  • Association Le Relais 80 members.

    <--go to Country List


    Ukraine

  • HOPE 250 members in 20 groups

    <--go to Country List


    United Kingdom

  • Depressives Anonymous A national self-help association with local groups and open meetings.

  • Depressives Associated
  • The Manic-Depression Fellowship The MD Fellowship educates the public about bipolar illness and publishes its own journal and newsletters. It runs self-help groups, open meetings and a pen-friend scheme. Its patron is Spike Milligan.

  • MIND
  • National Schizophrenia Fellowship [NSF] 6,500 members in 161 groups. 9 staffed regional offices.

  • The Samaritans The Samaritans has nearly 200 local branches manned by some 23,000 volunteers and takes nearly two and a half million calls for help per year.

    <--go to Country List


    United States

  • National Alliance for the Mentally Ill [NAMI] 160,000 members in 50 state chapters.

  • Depressive & Manic-Depressive Association of Mount Sinai Medical Center Open to persons with depression, bipolar disorder, their family members & friends. The group meets on alternate Tuesdays in NYC.

  • Nationwide National Family Caregivers Association <--go to Country List

    Uraguay

  • Grupo de la Esperanza The 170 members are relatives of people with major mental illnesses. Supported entirely by member donations.

    <--go to Country List


    List compiled mainly by:
    Dale L Johnson, PhD, Professor Department of Psychology University of Houston Houston, TX 77204-5341
    Please mail any additions to this list
    back to Myron Pulier's home page...

    Last modified 2005 09 24 0336 by Myron Pulier, MD, who would appreciate any opinions, updates and corrections.

    mpulier@interport.net