Description
There is currently no community support for people with mental illness, such as psychoses, neuroses, depression, in Chomutov. The project is therefore focused on the creation of community services for people with mental illness aimed at making them active. The project will also provide monitoring of, and counselling on the needs of persons from this target group and their relatives in cooperation with experts. Within the project, an 'Esprit club 'will be established and serve as a community support centre for mentally ill people. Moreover, 6 educational activities aimed at the de-stigmatization of people with mental disease will be organised as will an activity focused on personnel working with mentally ill people. The project is focused on people with mental illness, especially neuroses, psychoses and depression and their families or close persons.
Summary of project results
The aim of the project was to start support services for people with mental illness in Chomutov for whom there was no existing medical care. The particular objective of this project was to verify the interest of persons from target group in these services, to develop cooperation with professionals and to raise awareness in order to destigmatize these persons. Another important goal was intensive training and preparation of the implementation team of people who work directly with the target group. Thanks to the project, Klub Esprit was established which provided individual consultations, joint group meetings, health and relaxation exercises, art therapy, free club meetings and training of cognitive function and memory. The activities involved 20 people with mental illness. Moreover, there were meetings, exhibitions and lectures on the topic of living with mental illness, a cooperation was established with local psychiatric clinic and inpatient facilities and training of professionals was provided on how to approach and work with people with mental illness. Training was provided for professionals and students of secondary schools. The implementation team has been strengthened thanks to the professional competences developed through participation in courses and internships. There were twenty-nine courses, three internships and twelve consultations. Persons with mental illness came to the club based on information gained from leaflets and thanks to collaboration with psychiatrists. They were actively engaged in all club activities according to their needs. They had opportunity to influence by their respective proposals the subject matter and implementation of activities undertaken. Group and individual meetings, exercise and art therapy can be considered the most successful activities implemented throughout the project.
Summary of bilateral results