16 December 2017. The Institute for Patient Rights and Health Education organised an educational meeting for people with schizophrenia and their carers, which took place at the SPS ZOZ "Zdroje" Psychiatric Centre in Szczecin. The meeting was held under the auspices of a local NGO, the Association of Families and Friends of Persons with Lesser Opportunities - 'Więź' from Szczecin and the NeuroPozytywni Foundation from Warsaw. In the first part of the meeting, Dr Karolina Korwin-Piotrowska, MD, specialist in psychiatry, introduced the participants to the pattern of schizophrenia symptoms and their consequences. She also discussed treatment methods (through oral medication, intramuscular administration) and explained how medication treats the symptoms of schizophrenia. Finally, ways to manage the side effects of medication were presented, as well as information on what else is important besides drug treatment in the course of the illness (e.g. diet, alcohol abstinence, attending therapy, etc.). Throughout the meeting, participants had the opportunity to ask questions and receive substantive answers. The meeting also enabled the doctor to dispel some myths related to the disease. An added value, which received a lot of interest from the participants, was a demonstration of how to perform subcutaneous injections presented by a treatment nurse using a small phantom, which showed where the drug could be injected. The meeting was positively received by the participants. Above all, they praised the opportunity to ask questions and receive comprehensive answers provided by psychiatry specialist Karolina Korwin-Piotrowska, MD. The meeting was attended by approximately 40 participants (this group included both patients and carers of people with illnesses). 
The Institute for Patients' Rights and Health Education intends to continue organising meetings in more cities. Project implemented with the support of: 
