History

The English Schizophrenia Fellowship began in May 1970.  In 1977, Ann Noonan contacted the UK Fellowship and met with the founders. This led to the formation of the New Zealand Schizophrenia Fellowship. Ann received a grant from the Mental Health Foundation and with this began travelling through New Zealand to promote the idea to other areas. In 1977, Auckland area was approached and Ann met with a number of interested parents. A small committee was selected to plan for a new branch of “SF” and to keep in contact with the original members.

 

The first meetings were held in the homes of members. The first big publicity splash was in 1982 when Women’s Weekly published ‘Loneliest Illness in the World’ based on the story of four committee members. One of the members started giving talks to community groups and also began fund raising.

 

The first office for the Auckland branch was given to us by Auckland City Council above YMCA in Queen Street. In 1988, a notice to vacate nearly put SF on the streets but Helen Clarke came to the rescue and relocated us to a villa in Grey Lynn.

 

We remain there to this day, the villa known as Fellowship House. Initially Fellowship House was both an office/support centre as well as a small residential service for two to three consumers.

 

In 1988 volunteers established the first Field Workers for the Auckland and Northland region.

 

Over the years our name has also had a few changes. In recognition of the work we now undertake, our organisational name has of 01 July 2009 become Supporting Families in Mental Illness Auckland. We often just refer to ourselves as, “Supporting Families”, or abbreviated to SFMI.

 

We are now the largest SFMI branch in the country, covering the four Northern Region District Health Boards (DHBs).