The
Mental Illness Fellowship of South Australia (MIFSA) is a member based and member driven organisation which is part of a national
body with branches across states and territories in Australia. MIFSA is a community based, not for profit organisation delivering
a range of programs and services for people affected by mental illness, carers and the community.
The
national organisation, Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia (MIFA), is the largest national mental health, member-based
non-government organisation in Australia representing over 15,000 people in Australia whose daily lives have changed forever
because of severe mental illness. To address the deficits in available services,
Fellowships at state and territory levels provide non-clinical, community-based services so desperately needed to address
residual disabilities which remain present following acute clinical intervention. Services
include a broad range of interventions aimed to provide support, optimise rehabilitation and recovery, enhance individual
skills and enable individuals to catch up on interrupted education and career planning.
Locally,
services provided in South Australia include Peer Worker Program, Carer Education, Psychosocial Groups Program, Activity Centres,
an Education Program for metropolitan and country South Australia (80 000 people educated), a library information facility,
support groups, opportunity shops, an Accommodation Support Service, newsletter, face to face and telephone support to the
community in addition to a range of joint projects with other mental health organisations.
MIFSA services are available to all people
with a mental illness and carers, with a number of programs also targeting the wider community. MIFSA is not a diagnostically focused organisation. MIFSA
provides services to people affected by a range of moderate to severe mental illnesses and disorders including anxiety disorders,
depression, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorders, psychotic disorders, schizophrenia and schizo-affective disorder.
Particular emphasis is placed on focusing
on people’s strengths, assisting people to build their capacity and skills to assist them toward their recovery. This may take some Consumers only a short time, while other people may work with MIFSA
for years achieving small but important steps towards connecting with the community, achieving life goals and progressing
on their recovery journey.
While many Consumers re-engage with work
and community, other Consumers of the service have become volunteers undertaking essential work for MIFSA. MIFSA is a member
based and member driven organisation, drawing on the expertise of lived experience
at every level of service provision, from the corporate governance level to service delivery.
