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Description
The specific nature of a mental health disorder entails possible social exclusion. Only 2% of people with mental health disorders work full time, 44% take disability or retirement pension following their first hospitalization, 15% discontinue studies, almost 11% lose their jobs due to a mental health disorder (Needs of people with mental health disorders in Małopolska – research findings, A. Liberadzka, D. Kurbiel, 2015). These are people of a low level of civic activity.This project addresses the issue of exclusion of people with mental health disorders.Training in self-advocacy will be provided for 18 the most active people in the Cogito Leader Academy from various regions (four three-day meetings on self-advocacy, social service training, public appearances, and advocacy) and twelve people with mental health disorders from Małopolska (series of 24 training sessions on patients’ rights, overcoming barriers, case-law, and a support group). Leaders will be able to prove themselves when organizing a Mental Health Congress, and we will also involve people from Małopolska in a series of 32 seminars for medical students and students of social subjects.We also plan to publish a book to give people with experience of mental illness their say, and hold an Environmental Psychiatry Forum - a plane for tripartite discussion between people with mental health disorders, their families, and professionals.Thirty people with experience of mental health disorders from various places in Poland, and 150 people around them, will participate.As a result, thirty people will be trained in self-advocacy. 150 people around them will become more aware of rights, obligations, and opportunities of people with mental health disorders, and this community will be consolidated.The partner, the Open the Door Association, will provide contacts with members of the Cogito Leader Academy and assure educators participation in a series of 32 seminars on Talking about mental health disorders.
Summary of project results
The project addresses the problem of exclusion of people with mental illness. Schizophrenia affects 1% of the population; 50 million people worldwide and about 400,000 in Poland. In 2006, about 1.5 million people with mental illnesses were supported in Poland, i.e. 4% of the population (''Mentally ill people in society. Communication from research'', CBOS, 2008). The specific nature of mental illness is associated with the risk of social exclusion. Only 2 per cent of people with mental illness are fully economically active, 44 per cent go on disability/retirement after their first hospitalisation, 15 per cent drop out of school, almost 11 per cent are dismissed from work due to mental illness (''Needs of people with mental illness in Małopolska - research report'', 2015). People with mental illness are still stigmatised and rarely participate in social activities and public life.
The project prepared a development programme for people with mental illness - members of the Cogito Leaders Academy initiated by the Project Promoter. Five conferences were held to prepare 21 leaders for the role of self-advocates. In addition, 24 people with mental illness from Malopolska participated in a cycle of 24 training sessions to prepare them for the role of self-advocates, social work, public speaking and advocacy, the role of recovery assistants; these people also participated in two support groups. In addition, a series of 34 seminars entitled "Let''s talk about mental illness" was held for students at Krakow universities, in which people with mental illness played the role of self-advocates. A book was also published, giving a voice to people with mental illness. A two-day forum on community psychiatry was held with 150 participants dealing with mental illness.
Thanks to the project, people with mental illness were empowered in their role as self-advocates - both the leaders of the academy (21 people) and 25 people from Malopolska. These people were able to put into practice the knowledge and new skills they had acquired by speaking up for themselves and other people with mental illnesses at meetings and training sessions. The project also raised awareness of mental illness among students at Krakow''s universities (567 people attended the seminars). The project was an important step towards destigmatising mental illness and raising public awareness in this area.