Risa Rosello needed a reason to get up in the morning.
Diagnosed with schizophrenia in 1999, Ms Rosello can see and hear things that are not real.
She has managed her condition while working as a nurse, studying a degree in early childhood education and travelling.
"But it [schizophrenia] always gets in the way," Ms Rosello said.
"For the last six years I didn't do anything, I was unemployed because I was incapable of thinking straight … it was debilitating me," she said.
Then a friend told her about assistance for people who would otherwise be excluded from university study — the Clemente program at the Australian Catholic University (ACU) — and she enrolled.
"It gave me a new lease on life," Ms Rosello said.
"When you're ill, you just want to stay at home and be in bed and not have a shower. But it's finding that inner strength within you to keep going no matter what."
A qualification, and more
The Clemente program offers humanities subjects, such as history, literature, philosophy and art, with the same content and assessment tasks as on-campus undergraduate subjects.
Graduates receive a Certificate in Liberal Arts, which can be credited towards further degrees at ACU.
The Clemente Australia program, which partners with St Vincent de Paul Society, Sisters of Mercy and Micah Projects in Queensland, aims "to break the cycle of poverty, inequality and social injustice, for people experiencing complex life challenges, through access to university education".
During her studies, Ms Rosello met fellow student Suzanna Free, who has lived with bipolar disorder for 40 years.
"I wanted to go to university because I felt that … my confidence levels were shattered because of my illness.
Seeking intellectual stimulation, Ms Free said she "wasn't ready to be farmed out to pasture".
She said the program was a "lifesaver", not just because of the education she received but because of the people she met there.
Friendship forges advocates
Bonding during their studies, Ms Free and Ms Rosello became determined to address the significant gap in mental health education in the community.
With other students, they founded Blue Phoenix, a group of volunteers who share their personal stories publicly to encourage conversations about mental health and to dispel myths about psychiatric conditions.
"We decided to build this [Blue Phoenix] and we're starting to reduce stigma … in the public sphere, talking about our struggles and our pain," Ms Rosello said.
"The purpose behind it all is to stimulate a conversation at the grassroots level about thinking differently about mental health issues and people with mental health conditions," Ms Free said.
"It's not only to encourage people but it's actually to admire people and give them recognition and applause — it's a big ask to recover from a mental illness.
"It's a big thing to fight back from the illness …which in my situation rendered me physically disabled to the point where I couldn't string a sentence together, I couldn't write.
"I went to university and got distinctions and high distinctions.
Ms Rosello said in sharing their mental health journeys, they were hoping to inspire others while reducing stigma.
Ms Rosello said having a mental illness had been a "powerful experience".
"For me, in the past … I looked at it as a curse," she said.
"But it's been the greatest blessing because I've met … Suzanna and I've met so many amazing people through my difficulties.
"I overcame most of my struggles because of the … inspiring people that I've met."
Mental health in your inbox
Get a selection of the best mental health content from across the ABC by subscribing to our monthly newsletter
