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Description
The World Health Organization has called for mental health care for all. Social services for people with mental health problems in the community are generally not available. At the same time, they are rarely available in assisted areas such as Vukovar.
In doing so, it is necessary to develop community-based services. This project is trying to do that.
Project activities include an initiative to improve access to care and promote the human rights of people with psychosocial disabilities, a public campaign to destigmatize mental health through the Mental Health Festival and the establishment of peer support groups for community mental health, and strengthening the association''s capacity for sustainability and multiplicity of project results.
In line with the project goal, the project focuses on mutual support groups. They are places where nurturing networks for mutual help in the community, helping each other during crises, and learning about new opportunities will be nurtured. Peer facilitators or experienced professionals are people with personal experience of mental health problems, who are trained to support other people in need.
The applicant and partners are working to establish Peer Support Groups in their communities. The Ludruga Association conducts supervision consultations, the Vrapcici Association within the Mental Health Festival will contribute its experiences of working with user groups, Feniks Split is in charge of publishing activities on social networks and transferring experiences in the engagement of young user groups.
As an added value, the project focuses on underdeveloped and deprived geographical areas (Vukovar-Srijem, Brod-Posavina, Split-Dalmatia and City of Zagreb Counties), contributes to the empowerment and inclusion of vulnerable groups, national minorities, and intergenerational cooperation.
Summary of project results
Individuals with mental health challenges often lack access to care in their community or receive care that violates their human rights.There is an evident lack of social services for individuals with mental health difficulties in Croatia, and their availability in the areas of special state concern, such as the city of Vukovar, are even less existent. Individuals with mental health difficulties are in need of mental health protection and support for their integration in the community. Especially after hospitalization upon their return to their homes, the families of mental health patients are left on their own caring for them. There are no recovery, rehabilitation, or recreational plans in place, and rehabilitation services are insufficient. Therefore, there is a high need for development and establishment of community-based services for support to people with mental health difficulties and their families.
This project aimed to improve the accessibility of care for individuals with mental health problems in four cities in Croatia – Vukovar, Zagreb, Slavonski Brod and Split – through peer support groups in the community, with the aim of mental health protection. Furthermore, the project aimed to promote human rights of individuals with psychosocial difficulties through a public campaign, and to destigmatize mental health issues through organizing events such as mental health festivals. It also sought to strengthen the capacities and sustainability of the implementing organizations for furthering their work and reaching out to support more people suffering from mental health issues in their communities.
To provide direct support to individuals facing mental health challenges, peer group meetings were organized across four cities – 61 in Vukovar, 38 in Slavonski Brod, 46 in Zagreb, and 26 in Split. These sessions benefited a total of 179 individuals. Additionally, regular supervisory consultations were held for peer support group facilitators, totalling 24 sessions conducted via the Zoom platform. These consultations facilitated the exchange of experiences, provided support in their work, and helped them develop facilitation and communication skills. To further aid peer support group facilitators, a manual titled "Golden Rules for Support Group Facilitation" was created.
As part of a mental health promotion campaign, a mental health festival took place in May 2023 during Mental Health Awareness Week. The festival featured various activities, including the screening of the "Days of Madness" documentary at the Vukovar City Library, an anti-stress art workshop, a Living Library event, an outdoor Mental Health Museum, and a round table gathering. The awareness-raising campaign activities aimed at promoting international human rights standards on mental health, involved the creation and distribution of leaflets and audio podcasts.
The implementing organizations also engaged in capacity-building activities. These included a webinar on the economic activities of associations and Zoom workshops focusing on volunteer management, fundraising, and strategic planning. Furthermore, a workshop on Psychotherapeutic Techniques and Peer Work, led by a psychotherapist, was organized for the staff of the implementing organizations.
At the core of the project was the overarching goal to combat discrimination and ensure fair treatment for individuals grappling with mental health disorders. The establishment and operation of support groups played a pivotal role in crafting a community-focused care model, serving as the project''s primary specific objective. This initiative not only addressed the needs of victims of human rights violations but also fostered cross-sectoral collaboration and advocated for international human rights standards with relevant stakeholders.
The project targeted sensitive social groups, encompassing individuals with psychosocial difficulties and their loved ones, irrespective of age, religion, ethnicity, gender, nationality, or language, spanning across Vukovar, Split, Slavonski Brod, and Zagreb. Through its outcomes, the project provided support to individuals with mental health disorders as victims of human rights violations, fostered synergy across sectors, and promoted international human rights norms. By adopting a novel approach cantered on recovery and empowerment, particularly through support groups conducted by four implementing organizations, the support to victims of human rights violations was expanded.
The mental health campaign was instrumental in raising awareness about mental health within the local community. Furthermore, it served as a platform to advocate for international human rights standards among the broader public and stakeholders in the mental health sector. By actively engaging volunteers, public attention was drawn to the issues and community involvement promoted.
The capacity-building activities and collaborative partnerships significantly contributed to enhancing the capabilities and long-term viability of implementing civil society organizations. This collaborative effort facilitated the development of strategic plans, establishment of partnerships, planning and managing volunteer involvement as well as fostering steps towards diversification of funding sources.