[INTRODUCTION - The aim of our study is to show how people can live with a diagnosis of a psychiatric disease, a schizophrenia diagnosis in Hungary. METHODOLOGY - We made 25 narrative life story interviews with Hungarian people diagnosed with mental illnesses. We examined what the main obstacles and supporting factors may be in the life stories regarding the independent lifestyle and participation in community. RESULTS - According to the interviewees the main obstacles are their states or diseases, the stigmas after their diagnoses, the function of the psychiatric care system and the lack of self-reliance following the patient role. They mentioned the family and their own motivations as supporting factors. CONCLUSION - The examination of the institutional functions can reveal what the supporting factors may be which can facilitate the social participation of people diagnosed with mental illnesses on the level of the system. ]