It was in his second year at varsity that Paul-Hendrik Zietsman was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. Our family did not know how to cope and deal with this very complicated mental disorder. Louise Zietsman, Paul's mother and founder, went on to try and find the best possible help for Paul. Paul is to this day incredibly intelligent and had a beaming future awaiting him but due to the disorde
r he cannot study nor work. Throughout the years Louise did everything a mother could to make her son as happy as possible. Louise carried this burden as a single mother and the financial strain was immense. Louise Zietsman, the brave soul that she is tried everything to find him the best possible care available, but unfortunately there is no cure for this mental disorder but rather levels of stabilization with chronic medication. Louise took it upon herself to create an environment where Paul can feel safe, secured and deal with his day to day struggles. The struggles Paul deals with varies from a wide range of emotions, from being anxious a lot of the times, feeling very depressed and then at times extremely hyperactive. We cannot comprehend the emotions that schizophrenia sufferers deal with, and on then the on other hand they completely lack emotion. Louise founded House Elpidos in 2009. House Elpidos is a home whose residents suffer from various types of Schizophrenia and also Bipolar Mood disorders. At the moment House Elpidos is taking care of sixteen individuals whose families have no other refuge for them. Taking care of them is now our passion and also livelihood, but it is never easy. The House relies on Woolworths Foods' waste products for their weekly meals. Every Saturday Louise collects the food that has reached it sell by date and this is then used throughout the week. They also rely on any other donations. The dream of House Elpidos is to create awareness around the disorder. Raising funds and then build a refuge for those who suffer from schizophrenia. We want to learn more about the individuals and try and understand the complexity of both Schizophrenia and Bipolar disorder. House Elpidos is working towards a world-class mental health institute with full-time nurses and occupational therapists, so that we can stimulate them and tap into all of their potential so that they can also live a full life, have a stable job and even have their own family. We ask for support from all our friends and family to help us change this dream into a reality.
