Evaluation of the programme – includes examination of the social attitudes and evaluation of the stigmatization degree and milieu discrimination of persons with

diagnosed schizophrenia. The basis to carry out this area of the programme constitutes recognising the experiences of the ills with schizophrenia, as well as their families with the purpose of defining specific problems of given social and cultural milieu in a right and tangible way [13].

109 Within the framework of the programme ”Schizophrenia - open the door”, every year, in various towns of Poland, the World Day of Solidarity with the Persons ill with Schizophrenia is organized on the second Sunday of September. Each year, during celebrations of this day, the organizers undertake other aspect of the disease. Ceremonies embrace usually the street march of the ills and their families, participants of the associations rendering help for the persons afflicted with the mental diseases and other person concerned. During the day the anti-stigmatizing matters and calling to the integration with the ills are being promoted. The passage through the ”Symbolic Door” (a reconstruction of the front door) represents acceptation and respect to the ills with schizophrenia. Some other elements of celebrations of the Day of Solidarity include: demonstrations of artistic works of the patients, reproduction of educational films, musical performances, free of charge consultations of the psychologists and psychiatrists, thematic discussions and many others.

In 2002 for the first time it was organized in Krakow the Day of Solidarity with the Ills with Schizophrenia which began with the film entitled „A Beautiful Mind”, the performance of the Theatre PSYCHE ” Tristan and Isolde” (a form of drama-therapy that functions within the framework of the Daily Rehabilitation Ward in Krakow) and with the exhibition of the works of the persons afflicted with mental disease in the Krakow's Cloth Hall. The main event of the programme, and at the same time a ritual of the annual celebrations was the passage of the Krakow's Committee of Honour and city dwellers through the Symbolic Door at the corner of Bracka Street and Gołębia Street. Within the framework of the ceremonies there were organized on that day also: the lecture entitled ”Psychiatry and the arts”, varnishing-days and sale of works made by the ills with schizophrenia, ”Five o'clock” - it means the meeting with psychiatrists and psychologists (a possibility of conversation, getting advice), the poetic parlour with Krakow's artists and performers, movie shows (among other things „Schizophrenia-open the door”) and a piano concerto.

Moreover, in all churches of the Krakow's Diocese, Radio Krakow and Radio Zet, as well as in public television TVP3, there took place promotion of the programme „Schizophrenia-open the door”; people were also encouraged to take part in celebrations of the Day of Solidarity [14].

In the next years the celebrations of the Day of Solidarity took also place in other districts of Krakow, among other things in Krakow's district Kazimierz – the former Jewish district.

110 The participants of the programme ”Schizophrenia - open the door”, together with its organizers, elaborated ten theses concerning the schizophrenic disease, as they result from well justified statements of the modern psychiatry. They concern these forms of behaviours towards schizophrenia and persons afflicted with it that most frequently subject to social discussion [15]. They are as follows:

Thesis 1. Schizophrenia is a disease

Thesis 2. Schizophrenia is a multidimensional disease Thesis 3. Schizophrenia is not only a disease

Thesis 4. Schizophrenia is not a hereditary disease Thesis 5. Schizophrenia is not an incurable disease

Thesis 6. There is schizophrenia, there are persons being ill on schizophrenia – there are no „schizophrenics”

Thesis 7. A person being ill with schizophrenia does not stop to be a human being, a person, a citizen – as everyone of us

Thesis 8. People ill with schizophrenia do not constitute the greater threat for others than healthy people

Thesis 9. People being ill with schizophrenia expect respect, understanding and help

Thesis 10. Schizophrenia cast light on some existential questions that are common for the sick and healthy [16,17].

On the basis of the above mentioned theses, both the organizers and executors of the programme ”Schizophrenia - open the door” prepared in 2003 the demonstration of ten five- minute's long educational films. They were broadcasted on the aerial of the public television TVP3. They present the very essence of the Workshops of the Occupation Therapy which provide the ills into skills necessary to perform systematic labour; they describe job opportunities for persons being mentally ill in the pension and restaurant ”U Pana Cogito”; they bring up the issue of solitude in the disease and tasks of the family; they present exhibition of works of the person afflicted with mental disease, being the performers of the Krakow's Gallery ”Miodowa”; they describe how the schizophrenia exerts its influence on

111 man's image, as well as God's image; they present a therapeutic tool which is the theatre group (The Theatre ”Psyche”); they present a form of an institution, and at the same time the therapy that supports persons being ill after the crisis, which is a protected flat, and also promote the journal ”For Us” - a magazine dedicated for the Milieus Working for the benefit of Persons Being Mentally Ill.[18].

The Little Poland's action ”The persons being mentally ill can work”

The employment of the disabled persons remains on low level in Poland. According to a survey financed by the PFRON4, about 37% persons being mentally ill have never worked in their lives (2007). One can see the reason of such situation both in negative attitude of the employers (as many as 48% employers think that only 10% persons who had been mentally ill is capable to work professionally) [19] and in an inadequate system of rehabilitation and vocational education.

As a result of efficient realization of the intended purposes of the project ”Schizophrenia - open the door” there arose a next initiative that works against stigmatization of the ills in the aspect of employment and work known under the name ”From understanding to employment – jobs for persons afflicted with mental disease”, implemented to realization of on the1-st January, 2006. Its main purpose was first of all to change the stereotyped views of the modern society and workers' milieus, especially potential employers towards person afflicted with mental disease and to encourage the appropriate agencies to their employment. Within the framework of the programme there was conducted a promotional social campaign of informational nature – known under the password „Persons afflicted with mental disease can work”. In the streets of some bigger towns of the Little Poland there turned out 110 advertising posters representing the silhouettes of known and respectful figures with diagnosed mental diseases, and who - despite of that – distinguished themselves with glorious chapter of history and scientific achievements. Among them one could find the portrait of the famous physicist Isaac Newton, painter Vincent van Gogh, writer Ernest Hemingway, poetess Sylvia Plath or John Nash. The experience of mental disease did not cross out their lives triumphs [20]. Within the framework of the media campaign, together with the subscription of

4) 4 National Fund for the Rehabilitation of Disabled (PFRON). It has been existing since 1991. It is an earmarked fund whose measures are intended on the vocational and social rehabilitation of the disabled persons and their employment.

112 the domestic newspaper ”Dziennik Polski”, there was also added a special insert dedicated to positive aspects of the employment of the persons afflicted with mental disease.

There was also undertaken an attempt to present both private and social benefits resulting from employment of people experienced with mental disease. Some features of the employment were highlighted:

1. it is possible to get subsiding salaries for persons afflicted with mental disease, 2. it is possible to get subsiding contributions on the old-age insurances,

3. reimbursement of the training costs for the persons afflicted with mental disease, 4. reduction of payments rates for the PFRON,

5. promotion of the company as an open, socially sensitive company, 6. recruit an employee who is loyal and deeply involved in his/her job.

Still until recently the return to work of a patient with schizophrenia consisted in employing at a protected employment site (in the Krakow's café “Miodowa 9”, the lodging house and restaurant “U Pana Cogito”). Currently, except the activity of these workplaces, the Krakow's associations operating for the benefit of the persons afflicted with mental disease fight for a possibility of opening a labour market, as well as for suitable qualification of the employers, so as to be able to perform supervision over the patients and to provide suitable working conditions (working time up to 7 hours daily, the right to get an additional pause by day, ban of working overtime and night shifts )[20].

Conclusions

The Social Campaign becomes a continuation of the thought of Antoni Kępiński and confirmation of his words „there is something lofty in this disease”5. It is a proof that the ills are characterized by abilities and talents which relatively seldom appear among the healthy. 1. Krakow is one of the cities that widely promote the persons afflicted with mental disease in every aspect of their life. The authors of the campaign comprehensively utilize the

113 scientific and cultural potential, as well as touring attractions of the city. With the help of Krakow's performers (musicians, poets, actors), municipal corporation and doctors of psychiatrists they present the world and life of the ills in aspect of social tolerance.