In 1999 the World Psychiatric Association launched a program to tackle problems surrounding schizophrenia; in 2001 Brazil joined this association and in 2002 families involved in this scheme created the Associação de Amigos Familiares e Doentes Mentais, ABRE.

Schizophrenia is a mental disorder which affects around 0.7% of the population, usually manifesting itself in sufferers between late adolescence and early adulthood.

ABRE works to defend the rights of those affected, and improve the dissemination of knowledge about the nature and treatment of the disease - They work with the media to de-stigmatize the illness, and develop strategies to improve the quality of life of sufferers - ABRE can be contacted via email here.