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Description
Vukovar Sirmium County faces several developmental problems, including underdeveloped non-institutional social care and a shortage of professional staff, with a steady increase in service users, especially people with psychosocial difficulties, who are the most vulnerable group, stigmatized and often (re) hospitalized, at risk of soc. exclusion and poverty, as well as members of their families.
There are several problems they face:
• Lack of knowledge or awareness about mental health and human rights protection.
• Lack of a personalized approach to care: There are no recovery plans that would allow an individual to integrate into community life.
• Lack of rehabilitation or even recreational activities: People have nothing to do and are not provided with opportunities to learn or practise skills that could provide them with an occupation.
• Lack of alternatives in the community: most beneficiaries have nowhere to go after their stay in the institution. Their families carry the greatest burden of care, suffering emotionally, mentally, socially and economically.
This project seeks to make a step forward in terms of promoting the human rights of people with psychosocial difficulties and combating their discrimination. As a positive change, this project ‘goes beyond institutions’: it influences and mobilizes the local community, which, together with the necessary better cross-sectoral cooperation, is extremely important in the process of deinstitutionalisation and the creation of true acceptance and inclusion. Project results upon completion of the project include an initiative to improve the quality of care and promote the human rights of people with psychosocial disabilities. It offers a new approach to recovery-oriented orientation, oriented towards an approach to empowering vulnerable groups through mental health care. As an added value project contributes to intergenerational cooperation and intercultural dialogue with special emphasis on national minorities.
Summary of project results
Poverty and social exclusion are the reality of an increasing number of Croatian citizens, particularly vulnerable social groups such as people with psychosocial difficulties, disabilities, children, the unemployed, beneficiaries of rights from the social welfare system. In the area of VSŽ, there is an increased rate of risk of poverty and a decrease in the living standard of the population. The geographical position of Vukovar-Srijem County makes it relatively isolated from other counties in the Republic of Croatia, along with the long-term consequences of the war, the difficult economic situation, and the inability to hire professional staff, resulted in the fact that there is no quality work in the domain of care for people with psychosocial difficulties. There are a number of development problems that VSŽ is facing, primarily underdeveloped non-institutional social care and a deficit of professional staff in the provision of social care, along with a constant increase in service users, especially people with psychosocial difficulties.
People with mental disorders are the most vulnerable group, stigmatized and often (re)hospitalized, at risk of social. exclusion and poverty as well as their family members.
Local community awareness campaigns and raising awareness of the problem of protecting the human rights of people with psychosocial difficulties through the Film Festival on Mental Health and Human Rights and psycho-social walks. Production of audio recordings related to the promotion and raising of awareness of international standards of the rights of persons with psychosocial difficulties. Establishing cooperation between the civil sector and state institutions aimed at increasing support for human rights. Providing support, counseling and empowerment through peer groups, implementing training for volunteers and increasing the number of active volunteers in the organization.
The local community is sensitized to the problems of protecting the human rights of persons with psychosocial difficulties. Young people actively participate in advocacy actions related to the promotion of human rights. An intersectoral initiative was established to improve the quality of care and promote the human rights of people with psychosocial difficulties.