In March 2018. The Institute for Patient Rights and Health Education organised 3 educational meetings for people with schizophrenia and their carers, with a total of 139 participants (this group consisted of both patients and carers of people with the condition). Meetings were held in Białystok, Szczecin and Łódź. During the lectures, specialist doctors explained that schizophrenia, like any other disease, if untreated, can lead to adverse consequences for the patient. They presented positive (productive) and negative (disabling) symptoms of the disease and explained the difference between delusions and hallucinations. Meeting participants were introduced to the pattern of schizophrenia symptoms and their consequences. They also discussed treatment options (through oral medication, intramuscular administration) and explained how medication treats the symptoms of schizophrenia. Finally, ways of dealing with 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.). At all meetings, participants had the opportunity to ask questions and receive substantive answers. The meetings also enabled doctors to dispel certain myths related to the disease. An added value of the meeting in Szczecin, which met with great interest on the part of the participants, was a demonstration of how to perform subcutaneous injections presented by a community nurse using a small phantom that showed where the drug could be injected. All meetings were positively received by the participants. Above all, they praised the opportunity to ask questions and receive comprehensive answers provided by the psychiatric professionals. Bialystok - 15 March 2018. Place: the seat of the Association for Psychiatric Rehabilitation in Bialystok The meeting was attended by 47 participants. The meeting was held under the patronage of the local NGO Stowarzyszenie na Rzecz Rehabilitacji Psychiatrycznej and the NeuroPozytywni Foundation in Warsaw. 
Doctor Rafał Okoński during a meeting in Bialystok Szczecin - 20 March 2018. Place: Środowiskowy Dom Samopomocy "Galeria Dom Klub Pod Fontanną" in Szczecin The meeting was attended by 67 participants The meeting was held under the patronage of the local NGO "Więź" Association of Families and Friends of Persons of Lesser Opportunities from Szczecin and the NeuroPozytywni Foundation from Warsaw. 
Teresa Zalewska, MD, during the meeting in Szczecin (Photo: IPPEZ) Łódź - 27 March 2018. Place: Headquarters of the Association of Youth and People with Mental Problems, Their Families and Friends POMOST in Łódź The meeting was attended by 25 participants The meeting was held under the patronage of local NGOs operating under the name Association of Youth and People with Mental Problems, Their Families and Friends POMOST, Towarzystwo Przyjaciół Niepełnosprawnych, Stowarzyszenie Rodzin Działających na Rzecz Zdrowia Psychicznego "Dla Rodziny" and Fundacja NeuroPozytywni from Warsaw. 
Dr Piotr Wierzbinski during the meeting in Łódź (photo: IPPEZ) Project supported: 
