Family Support for Schizophrenia (FSS) is a registered non-profit organisation offering guidance, empathy, and community to families and carers of individuals living with schizophrenia and related psychiatric disorders.
Connecting families anywhere
While our roots are in Cape Town, South Africa, our community now extends nationwide and online. We bring people together through:
- Online support group meetings: safe, confidential spaces to share experiences, listen to expert presentations and gain practical advice
- Personalised email guidance: direct, compassionate support for carers and loved ones seeking information
- Community resources: regular newsletter updates and educational resources through our website and social media
Our goals
- To give support to the families and carers of people living with schizophrenia
- To enlighten and educate families, carers and the public about schizophrenia and mental illness
- To raise awareness aimed at fostering community support and involvement
- To reduce the stigma associated with schizophrenia and mental illness
- To advocate for the rights of persons with mental illness
Our governance
FSS is coordinated by a management committee elected annually by our members at our Annual General Meeting (AGM). Our organisation is run entirely by volunteers and funded through members’ subscriptions, donations, and fundraising.Â
2026 / 2027 FSS management committee
Maureen Robinson
ChairpersonÂ
Charlotte Lombard
Vice-chair
Wilma Steenkamp
Treasurer
Susan Newton-King
Secretary
Tina James
Tonia Muller
Fuzlyn Riffel
Our journey
Founded in 1981 as Cape Support for Mental Health, we were South Africa’s first support network created specifically for families navigating mental health challenges. Over the decades, our community has grown and evolved. In 2021, we formally adopted a new name to better reflect our focus as Family Support for Schizophrenia, and today we operate as a registered Public Benefit Organisation (PBO).
