Argentina Gets Family Website
APEF,
la Asociación Argentina de Ayuda a la Persona que Padece de Esquizofrenia
y su Familia, recently inaugurated its new website for families of the
mentally ill in Argentina. The website is found at www.apef.org.ar.
APEF is the Voting Member of the World Fellowship for Schizophrenia and Allied Disorders in Argentina. APEF organizes mutual support sessions for families with a loved one suffering schizophrenia. It has its headquarters in Buenos Aires, but maintains close relations with family groups throughout the country, including Mendoza, Córdoba, Rosario, Mar del Plata, Concordia and La Plata.
The driving force behind the creation of the website was a cardiologist with a son diagnosed with schizophrenia. The situation for this family improved with APEF's help and psychoeducation, and the son was able to return to high school. The father, who was was already looking after the website of the cardiologists association, wanted to show his family's appreciation to APEF. So he helped form a committee of volunteers to create a website for APEF.
The result of the committee's work is a rich resource for families. There are pages explaining what schizophrenia is, what questions to ask the psychiatrist, how families can manage a crisis and what medications are available. Much of the information is drawn from publications of the World Fellowship for Schizophrenia and Allied Disorders.
"The World Fellowship salutes APEF," said WSFAD's Executive Director, Diane Froggatt, "for demonstrating how Internet technology can be used to deliver services to families. If you are Spanish-speaking, you will want to visit the APEF website for information of interest to families everywhere."
