Publication Date: 01 October 2025
RRP: $29.99
ISBN: 9781923192300
Format: Paperback
Size: 153mm x 234mm
Pages: 256
Category: Health, Psychology

Living with Schizophrenia

Stories, Advice and Advocacy from the Front Lines of a Mental Health Crisis

Margaret Leggatt AM and Mary Ryllis Clark

Also available as an ebook from your favourite retailer.


‘Poignant and inspiring … How we care for people living with schizophrenia and their families is a fundamental test of our collective humanity.’ Professor Alan Rosen AO and Professorial Fellow Maxwell Bennett AO

‘The flavour of the book is one of hope.’ Pearls and Irritations


One in 100 people have schizophrenia, but it remains one of the most misunderstood health conditions. There is much more our governments, public institutions and the community can do to support individuals’ mental health.

In Living with Schizophrenia, co-founder of SANE Australia Margaret Leggatt and journalist Mary Ryllis Clark explore the myths and mistruths around schizophrenia, as well as how we can ensure earlier treatment and access to services for individuals and families.

This book brings about a greater understanding of what confronts a family when one of its members faces a diagnosis of schizophrenia. It also explores the gaps in the healthcare system that are letting too many down, and the complex layering of discrimination that often results in injustices and poor health outcomes. Ultimately, it makes a passionate case for what can be done to improve the lives of those with schizophrenia and their families. The way forward is clear; we need to make it a reality.

Featuring interviews with those who live with schizophrenia and their families, as well as professional perspectives from foremost Australian psychiatrists, social workers and psychologists in the field, this moving and hopeful book shines a light on a common condition that needs more public support.


Read Sandy Jeff’s launch speech


Margaret Leggatt AM

Margaret Leggatt AM is an academic and a tireless advocate for families affected by complex mental illness. After founding the Schizophrenia Fellowship of Victoria in 1978, she went on to found SANE Australia, the leading national mental health organisation for...

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Mary Ryllis Clark

Mary Ryllis Clark is a writer and historian. The author of several biographies and histories, she also wrote a fortnightly column for The Age, ‘Historic Victoria’, from 1992 to 2005. Mary migrated from London to Australia in 1974, lives...

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