In June 2018. The Institute for Patient Rights and Health Education organised 3 educational meetings for people with schizophrenia and their carers, with a total of 97 participants (this group consisted of both patients and carers of people with the condition). Meetings were held in Rzeszów, Krakow and Wałbrzych. During the lectures, specialist doctors explained that schizophrenia, like any other illness, 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 Kraków was a presentation by Mr Mateusz Biernat, a consultant at the Disability Office of the KEN Pedagogical University in Kraków, who spoke about professional activation of patients with psychiatric illnesses. Meeting participants praised the opportunity to ask questions and receive comprehensive answers provided by psychiatric specialists. Rzeszów - 15 June 2018. Place: Rzeszow Regional Development Agency The meeting was attended by 35 participants The meeting was held under the patronage of the Association of Families "Open Mind" from Rzeszow, Patient's Club "ANIMA" from Rzeszow, All-Poland Federation of Associations of Families of Mentally Ill People "Families" from Cracow, NeuroPozytywni Foundation from Warsaw. 
(Photo: IPPEZ) Krakow - 21 June 2018. Place: J. Babiński Specialist Hospital in Kraków The meeting was attended by 25 participants Leading doctor - specialist in psychiatry Andrzej Marycz, Mateusz Biernat - Consultant in the Office for Disabled Persons at the KEN Pedagogical University in Kraków The meeting was held under the auspices of the Association of Families for Mental Health from Kraków, the All-Poland Federation of Associations of Families of Mentally Ill People "Families" from Kraków, the NeuroPozytywni Foundation from Warsaw. 
(Photo: IPPEZ) Walbrzych - 22 June 2018. Place: Library under the Atlantami in Walbrzych 37 participants took part in the meeting Moderator: Aleksandra Krajewska - specialist in psychiatry The meeting was held under the patronage of the All-Poland Federation of Associations of Families of Mentally Ill People "Families" from Krakow and the NeuroPozytywni Foundation from Warsaw. 
(Photo: IPPEZ) Project implemented with the support of: 
