CIVIL SOCIETY: 269 PRACTICES
The Organization "Thalpos-Mental Health" (former Athena-Social Care) is a non-profit and non-governmental organization founded in 2005 with an active role in intervention and raising awareness on mental health and management of social care programs.
More: www.thalpos.org.gr
The basic operation principle of the Mental Health and Rehabilitation Units “Thalpos” is the harmonious social inclusion of people with chronic mental disorders into the community based on the principles of Community Psychiatry. The main objective of the Units is the improvement of mental health and quality of life for people with mental disorders, providing them with adequate and qualitative resources, proper direction and appropriate support so that they can be aligned with the rhythms of social reality.
Through the wider feedback of the mission and vision of the Organization "Thalpos-Mental Health" we implement awareness actions to the local community and the general public by taking advantage of new technologies and digital media giving priority in:
- Promoting and spreading the importance of prevention and positive attitude towards mental health
- Defending the rights of people with mental disorders
- Fighting stigma and social isolation, fear and prejudice
Our action focuses on people with mental disorders and their supporting environment, on health professionals, the local community and the public.
2006 until today
The foundation, organization and operation of the Units “Thalpos Attica” and “Thalpos Kalamata” were the milestone of the Organization "Thalpos-Mental Health". The two Units operate under the Greek Mental Health Reform Framework and the Program “Psychargos” under the supervision of the Ministry of Health.
The Units “Thalpos Attica” and “Thalpos Kalamata” are residential structures of high protection facilitating psychosocial rehabilitation. They host people with chronic mental disorders and focus on the personal psychosocial development of the guests, their education, hospitalization and employment.
The Units are structured, organized, developed and operated based on the principles of Community Psychiatry, sectorization, outpatient treatment, continuity of psychiatric care and the support of the community in the promotion of mental health.
“Thalpos” Units have been developed by health professionals with many years of experience in the private and public sector providing specialized and certified services by the Ministry of Health to support their guests and their family environment.
Especially our work in the Units focuses on:
- Training in independent living and social skills
- Psychological support to our guests and their families
- Medical care
- Vocational training and employment
- Participation in social support networks
- Participation in leisure activities
- Training programs for our staff
- Developing standards and procedures to ensure the quality of the mental health care
- Information and awareness programs on mental health for the public
The Organization "Thalpos-Mental Health" plays a significant role as a reliable information hub for the general public through our web site www.thalpos.org.gr where the Interdisciplinary Teams of our Units “Thalpos Attica” and “Thalpos Kalamata” sign the content covering the following thematic categories:
Social impact - Results of 12 years of active contribution
For people with mental disorders: Impact on improving mental health, alignment with social reality
For the local community: Networking, local development, development of partnerships, investing in programs that help communities to manage social issues, active participation and engagement of volunteers from the local community
For the society: Impact on social cohesion, promotion of physical, mental and social well-being, informational actions on mental health prevention and raising awareness about mental disorders stigma
The geographical scope of actions concerns the Attica and Messinia district.
Thalpos-Mental Health is cooperating with other organizations on:
- Local/Regional level: Mental Health Sector Committees, Regional and Local Authorities of Attica and Messinia, Hospitals and Health Bodies, Social Services
- National level: Ministry of Health, Directorate of Mental Health, National Register of Private Social Care Institutions, Service of International Co-operation of Development of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- European level: For the educational partnership “Grundtvig” entitled "Against Exclusion" with European partners: Libera Universita del Teatro Monteriggioni SI - Italy (Coordinator), LAG Theaterpädagogik Baden-Württemberg eV - Germany, County Employer of Business Women of SME CLUJ - Romania, Poleski Ośrodek Sztuki Łódź - Poland, Lothar Tschapka Training & Coaching KG - Austria
Our human capital is our driving force. In total 51 employees are occupied in the Units. Trained health professionals, including psychiatrists, psychologists, social therapists, social workers and nurses as well as administrative and general staff cover the 24-hour operation of our Units.
To achieve the Vision of the Organization "Thalpos-Mental Health" in order to improve mental health and quality of life for people with mental disorders so they can be reconciled with social reality, we build meaningful bonds of life and trust with our patients and our employees.
We develop effective and productive partnerships with local community and partners who believe and endorse in turn our values:
- Integrity
- Innovation
- Transparency
- Responsibility
- Teamwork
The successful implementation of our goals empowers our mission providing us with strength and expertise in the social map of Mental Health in our country.
