We are very proud to announce that The People Like You – Foundation for young people affected by mental illness has arrived. At The People Like You Foundation, the lived experience is paramount in everything that we do. This is the first mental health service made by people living with mental illness, for people living with mental illness.

The People Like You foundation has been created by People Like You, for People Like You.

Just like peoplelikeyou.com.au, the People Like You Foundation has been launched because the mental health sector does not cater to the specific needs of young people.

The People Like You Foundation for young people affected by mental illness has multiple goals because young people are affected by mental illness in multiple ways. Young people are affected if a parent suffers from a mental illness, they are affected if a sibling suffers from a mental illness, they are affected if a friend suffers from a mental illness and they are affected if they themselves suffer from a mental illness.

I was thinking about the ultimate goal of the People Like You Foundation and I recalled a conversation that I had with my parents a few months ago. We were chatting at my mothers 60th birthday and they both said to me “ thank goodness you are back, we lost you for a few years, but it’s so good to have our son back”. That conversation encompasses what the People Like You Foundation is about.

We are in the business of giving parents their children back, we are in the business of giving brothers their sisters back and sisters their brothers back and ultimately, we are in the business of giving young people their lives back. We aim to enable everyone who is affected by mental illness to have the conversation with their loved ones, that I had with my parents.

We have put together a board of management that encompasses the breadth of what we have set out to achieve and the services that we will provide. Specifically we will be focusing on:

• Recreation programs
• Arts therapy
• "Funny Farm" - A mental health learning centre that revolves around an organic farm.
• Community events - We will be involved in the Open Mind Fiesta 2009
• Education and training (see the training page)

The People Like You Foundation – made by People Like You, for People Like You.