Dr Paulann Grech, a lecturer at the University of Malta's Department of Mental Health, is spearheading a national awareness campaign on psychosis. She is also the chairperson of NGO Hearing Voices Malta, which, together with Richmond Foundation, are leading #myreality.
#myreality is a campaign addressing the issue of stigma associated with psychosis and will be running for the next six to twelve months.
It aims to put psychosis at the forefront of public discussion, to help the general public learn more on this condition. Psychosis and psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia, remain some of the most stigmatised and misunderstood psychiatric conditions.
By starting a dialogue on psychosis, the campaign is going to increase sensitivity towards the experience of psychosis by challenging the language used which often continues to propagate the stigma.
Topics will range from what psychosis is, to its causes and treatment, as well as how to support someone diagnosed with psychosis.
Hearing Voices Malta is an NGO which aims to offer and promote self-help support for people who hear voices or have other unusual experiences, commonly described as a symptom of psychosis. Dr Paulann Grech, who is also the chairperson of Hearing Voices Malta, explained that "the first step is to understand that psychosis is not just a mental illness. It is another reality; a different way of 'being'. In this way, it then becomes less of a label and more of an issue on how to live life in a satisfactory way - with or without the symptoms."
Richmond Foundation is a non-governmental organisation which endeavours to provide optimal community mental health care and promote mental wellbeing. It seeks to address mental health problems through prevention and provides support for good quality of life.
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