Mental Illness Fellowship Queensland

Mental Illness Fellowship of North Queensland Inc., (formerly known as Schizophrenia Fellowship of North Queensland Inc) was formed by and for people who experienced mental illness and their families in 1986. The organisation was born through the pain and suffering of people and families experiencing mental illness who were without access to information, support or hope. The pain was manifest in Ward 10B of the old Townsville Hospital leading up to the Carter Royal Commission and the subsequent reform and re-organisation of mental health services and personnel in the region.

As SFNQ, the organisation drew on the work of Margaret Leggatt (OAM), which led to the establishment of the first Schizophrenia Fellowship in Victoria. Little by little, under the stewardship of its Management Committee, (made up of individuals living with mental illness, their family members, business and professional leaders) the Fellowship gained funding from State, Federal and Philanthropic groups to provide the range of services and supports now available.

In 2001, our organisation changed its name to Mental Illness Fellowship of North Queensland Inc. The Fellowship has a proud history of service to individuals, families and communities in North Queensland spanning more than 25 years and looks keenly to the future and the opportunities to see its vision move closer to becoming reality.