Description
The project anticipates new requirements of defined plans to reform psychiatric care in the Czech Republic which is based on de-institutionalism of psychiatric health care. The project seeks to improve and extend the existing healthcare and social services and focuses on bridging hospitalization and out-patient care which creates a first pre-step to the reform’s applicability. Within the project new treatment care programmes (4) will be provided. This treatment will be focused on training self-reliance, healthy lifestyle, support of cognitive and social functioning etc. The project aims to extend therapeutic activities and maintain contact with patients released from hospital in order to provide continuous support and education during the final stages of their treatment. Several partners will be involved in the project including project donor partner - Baerum Distric Psyciartic Center in order to maintain highest effectiveness of treatment. The partnership will be focused on sharing experiences with similar reforms applied in Norway.
Summary of project results
The project reacted on new trends of psychiatric health care laid down in the Mental Health Care Reform that was approved in 2014 in the Czech Republic. Its objective was to extend therapeutic activities within in-patient care but also provide continuous support and education during the final stages of out-patient treatment. A comprehensive rehabilitation system (programme START) was introduced in Sternberk mental hospital, built on four pillars - 1 ) Programme Start, focusing on training self-reliance, support of cognitive and social functioning in hospitalized patients with serious mental disorders. This training involves stationary co-education programme of four weeks, involving ergo-therapists, physiotherapists and psychologists. 2) Open therapeutic groups - education, support and self-reliance groups provided to hospitalized and extra-mural patients and their family members and close relations. Emphasis is put on identification and modification of risk behaviour and preventive care for the patient and his family. 3) free-time activities - these activities support treatment effects but also improve quality of life and prevent stigmatization and social exclusion of patients with mental disorders. 4) cooperation with regional social organizations and civic associations providing individual consulting and case management focusing on mental disorder patients. The training component, which formed a biggest part of the project was a key prerequisite to achieve the project objective. The hospital staff underwent a huge variety of trainings ranging from specialised therapeutic methods to communication skills, motivation and handling stressful situations. The position of peer-specialist was introduced as valuable part of the treatment process. The investment part of the project included equipment of the training facility of START programme and revitalisation of the hospital area. Altogether 2 130 patients took part in programme START and benefited from improved mental health care services during the project implementaion.
Summary of bilateral results
Two reciprocal study visits were organised within the partnership with Baerum Distric PsyciarticCenter, VVHT, Norway. The newly established treatment programme START was inspired by similar model existing in partner institution and consulted with Norwegian specialists. Norwegian partners also took active part in the conferences and seminars organised by Sternberk mental hospital for partners from health and social care organisation and professional public. Programme START was subject to evaluation that was methodologically led by the Norwegian partner. Apart from questionnaire survey, Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale was used. The data will be used to further increase the quality of START programme. Established intensive cooperation with social and health care organizations in the region (e.g. Mana Olomouc, Charita Olomouc, Charita Šternberk), developed personal contacts and relations that allow intensive cooperation between the organizations and mental hospital. Thus, a network of organisations that may be of assitance to released patients was established.