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Description
A recent study by the World Health Organization highlighted the impact of the covid-19 pandemic on mental health. Same source reported that the current situation significantly affected people already suffering from mental health issues and illnesses. As the demand for psychosocial support is expected to increase, there is an urgent need to inform the public and raise awareness about mental health and the rights of recipients of mental health services, as well as, to take action to strengthen multi-actors and multi-stakeholders cooperation, to further enforce protection of the rights of recipients of mental health services.
Aim of the “Dido” project is to enhance the protection of the rights of recipients of mental health services through:
▪ Capacity-building, raising awareness and sensitization of public servants, mental health professionals, schools and media professionals on mental health issues and on the rights of recipients of mental health services advocacy;
▪ Strengthening multi-actors and multi-stakeholders cooperation, through the development of communication bridges and the implementation of consultation events;
▪ Raising public awareness.
KMOP is the lead applicant of the “Dido” project, with ESIEMTH, participating as co-applicant. The project will be implemented at Thessaloniki. During the project lifetime, it is expected that at least 400 people from the target groups will enhance their knowledge and capacities. Concurrently, more than 7,000 people will be reached through targeted dissemination and communication activities. “Dido” expected outcomes are the following: increased target groups’ and general public awareness on issues related to the protection of the rights of recipients of mental health services; mitigation of hate speech and discrimination; facilitation of development of multi-actors’ advocacy initiatives, aiming at further enforcing protection of the rights of recipients of mental health services and their families.
Summary of project results
The project was designed and implemented during the Covid-19 pandemic. As a result the focus of the project was the impact of Covid-19 pandemic on mental health. Additionally, the lockdown period significantly affected people already suffering from mental health issues and illnesses. As the demand for psychosocial support was expected to increase, there was an urgent need to inform the public and raise awareness about mental health and the rights of recipients of mental health services, as well as, to take action to strengthen multi-actors and multi-stakeholders cooperation, to further enforce protection of the rights of recipients of mental health services.
Aim of the “Dido” project was to enhance the protection of the rights of recipients of mental health services through:
- Capacity-building, raising awareness and sensitization of public servants, mental health professionals, schools and media professionals on mental health issues and on the rights of recipients of mental health services advocacy;
- Strengthening multi-actors and multi-stakeholders cooperation, through the development of communication bridges and the implementation of consultation events;
- Raising public awareness.
The project was implemented in Athens and Thessaloniki and during its duration 248 people were trained and informed and more than 7.000 people were reached through dissemination and communication activities. The results of the project include raising awareness on issues of advocacy for the rights of mental health service recipients, mitigating racist discourse and discrimination and encouraging the development of new initiatives to protect the rights of mental health services recipients and their families.