Founded by families with lived experience of schizophrenia, SANE has represented Australians affected by persistent or complex mental ill health for more than 35 years.
SANE champions the voice of lived experience, bridges gaps in the mental health system and advocates to reduce the stigma, inequality and exclusion experienced by so many members of our community.
SANE is a leader in digital mental health support, providing free and accessible services designed specifically for adults living with complex mental health as well as families, friends and carers. Services include:
- SANE Supportline – a national telephone counselling and peer support phone service, available 10am-5pm (AEST) weekdays on 1800 187 263
- SANE Community Forums – moderated online peer-to-peer discussion, support and group events available 24/7
- SANE Guided Psychosocial Support Service – a 14-week program of goal-directed counselling or peer support for individuals and carers. This service in not yet available nationally but check the SANE website for locations
- SANE Peer Guides – training, mentorship and practical work experience for people seeking a career within the peer workforce.
All services are accredited to the National Safety and Quality Digital Mental Health Standards and can be accessed at www.sane.org/get-support.
SANE actively addresses stigma and discrimination through activities such as Stigmawatch, one of the first programs in the world to identify and successfully reduce stigmatising media content.
The Dax Centre tackles stigma by using art to improve public awareness and understanding of mental ill health while also providing artists with lived experience opportunities for creative expression and career expansion.
The Anne Deveson Research Centre is the research arm of SANE, monitoring and reporting on community experiences and building the evidence based required for advocacy and policy change.
The SANE online library of information and resources includes downloadable fact sheets, guides, recovery tools and real life stories.
Underpinning every activity is their long legacy of lived experience. More than 75% of the SANE workforce and Board identify as having lived or living experience of mental ill health in themselves or a loved one, and all SANE programs have been either co-designed or heavily informed by lived experience.
To learn more about the work of SANE or to get involved, visit www.sane.org or contact on info@sane.org.
