Coordination Groups
KEY FACTS
Holding Organization: Hellenic Observatory for Rights in the Field of Mental Health Status: nonprofit organisation People involved in the project: 45 members, 20 to 25 participants in the weekly assemblies, 100 friends and supporters all over Greece Public partners: NO Private Partners: ΝΟ Sources and links: http://mentalhealthhellenicobservatory.wordpress.com/ email: paratiritiriopsy à yahoo.com Contact person: Anna Emmanouelidou 0030 6949 500 133
_The idea: The idea started from the belief that mental distress is not only the subject of psychiatric treatment but a basic human experience that can be managed in different ways. One of them concerns the self-organization of recipients.
The local context: Despite efforts towards deinstitutionalization and the development of community mental health services in the last 20 years in Greece, the situation in the field of mental health care remains problematic. People in distress are treated almost exclusively with medication and are confined to psychiatric hospitals. The hospitalization conditions often are unacceptable, with use of force, restraint and excessive pharmacotherapy being common practices. There is lack of information about alternative methods of treatment and lack of monitoring of treatments provided.
The starting point: In 2004 an initiative from 3 persons started as a joint project against the use of violence and mechanical restraint in the Psychiatric Hospital of Thessaloniki. After 10 general meetings, between 2005 and 2006, the Observatory was founded and the founding document of principles was established.
Steps and development of the action: 2004: initiative from 3 persons against psychiatric violence 2006: foundation of the Observatory and its document of principles
How does it work? The Observatory organizes, records and pursues collective complaints about incidents of abuse of power, violence and excessive use of psychotropic medication in different mental health facilities. It informs the public about alternative healing methods by organizing awareness events throughout the region of Northern Greece. It supports and assists in self-organizing of mental health service recipients through organizations such as "hearing voices" (an initiative of people with psychosis) and «Ελεύθερη Πτώση» (Freefall, an initiative for depression). It organizes seminars on psychosis involving patients, families and professionals, aiming to develop new forms of knowledge about psychosis. These seminars function as self-help groups, with an increased interest in participation of all parties from an equal basis. It provides counselling support to psychiatric patients and promotes the institution of "psychiatric wills". Volunteers take on the role of trusted persons as references in the psychiatric wills. The members of the Observatory also translate foreign language texts on alternative psychiatry in the Greek language, to help dissemination of these ideas in Greece. Lastly, the Observatory works with local support networks and solidarity initiatives, which have been developed at neighbourhood level, and provides counselling support in order to promote the mental health of citizens.
Added value of the project and making resources available: Social benefits: It enhances the self-organization of people in distress by creating a sense of 'belonging' and offers psychological support to people who are experiencing difficulties due to the difficult economic and political situation of the country. They do so by avoiding the psychiatrization of these experiences and by emphasizing the social dimension of the crisis instead. Shaping policies: It suggests alternative ways of managing mental distress and treating mental illness. It contributes to the eradication of violence and abuse of power within the therapeutic staff.
Challenges/risks/inertias: The major difficulty is the restricted time availability of the members of the Observatory, as it is a voluntary action pursued in the free time of the members, and that is why the pace is slow. For this reason, the policy adopted is to take on actions that can be supported by the members and be completed. Also, there is mobility among the members, since many members of the Observatory are students, who leave when they complete their studies, while new students enter every year. For this reason, the organization ensures that it has a stable core of volunteers, who can provide continuity of membership and action.
Future perspectives: The Observatory aims to continue and consolidate its initiatives in the region of Northern Greece and to extend its activities to other cities. They also plan the expansion of the seminar on psychosis, because there is a multitude of stakeholders who are interested in it, as well as the operation of more self-help groups. The creation of a "runaway house" in Greece remains a big dream, but its realisation is currently beyond the means of the organisation in terms of finances and time availability.