LIFE bowls up challenges but in the case of schizophrenia they are "treatable and manageable".
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Dubbo-based recovery support worker with the Schizophrenia Fellowship of NSW Amber Knee has urged the community to "not be afraid of it".
She was speaking at an event in Dubbo run by the fellowship as part of Schizophrenia Awareness Week 2016.
About 15 people turned out to play lawn bowls at Dubbo City Bowling Club to raise awareness of the mental illness that affects one in 23 people or about one million Australians.
"We are shining a light on schizophrenia and trying to get people to open their minds," Ms Knee said.
"It is treatable and manageable. People can live very normal lives to the point where you could walk past them and have no idea that they have schizophrenia.
"It still could affect them in ways you cannot see but not to the extent that everyone thinks they're going to go schizo or crazy.
"They could have psychotic episodes but generally they live pretty normal lives."
Ms Knee and her colleagues in Dubbo run the Personal Helpers and Mentors Program from Oliver House in Church Street.
They help in the recovery of people from mental illnesses by connecting them with services and encouraging their involvement in the community.
"It could be getting them to play tennis once a week or lawn bowls once a week," Ms Knee said.
The program also supports the development of "beneficial family, carer and other participant-chosen relationships".
Ms Knee said a feature of the program was retreat weekends attended by a "big group of carers".
Research is under way into the exact causes of schizophrenia that the fellowship reports is a condition "characterised by disturbances in a person's thoughts, perceptions, emotions and behaviour".
The fellowship in Dubbo can be contacted by calling 6882 2855.
