On 15 September, 2002, an archway – festooned with flowers and garland – stood in the central square in Kraków, Poland. Those in the crowd who had come to celebrate the first Day of Solidarity with People Suffering from Schizophrenia were invited to step through the doorway and sign a petition affirming their solidarity to those living with schizophrenia.

Similar events were held in 15 other cities around Poland, including Warsaw. One hundred and eighty-seven media outlets – newspapers, magazines, radio and television – covered the nationwide celebration.

In 2003, the event had doubled in size. Thirty-two cities held public exhibitions: art displays, poetry readings and theatre performances by individuals living with schizophrenia.

That same month, the Polish Ministry of Health named the ‘Open the Doors’ programme the ‘Success of the Year in Health Care’. The work begun by Dr Andrzej Cechnicki and Anna Bielañska in 2000 has evolved into one of the most successful national efforts in the global World Psychiatric Association (WPA) programme.

Putting the structure in place

Poland is a nation of roughly 38.5 million people, covering 312,685 km2. A national anti-stigma effort that far-reaching requires careful coordination of many people. In March 2000, a core team of four professionals, including Dr Cechnicki and Ms Bielañska of Jagiellonian University in Kraków, held its first meeting with 15 individuals from eight different regions of the country. These team members included professionals and members of family organizations.

Regular monthly meetings were key to the coordination of the different regions.