CITIZENS AGAINST DEPRESSION
SOCIETY
CIVIL SOCIETY: 269 PRACTICES
TOPIC:
Initiative
SUBMITTED FROM:
EPAPSY
Objective Action
SECURE SOCIAL COHESION – INCREASE OF PROVISION OF WELFARE SERVICES IN VULNURABLE POPULATIONS
Target Audience
PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM DEPRESSION
Duration
19 months (1st October 2014 - 30th April 2016)
Description
Depression often leads individuals to isolation, while people who suffer from depression are at higher risk to attempt suicide than general population. People living in urban areas as well as remote regions are affected. The project aimed at suggesting a model intervention which is cost-effective for support against depression. Specifically, the cooperation between EPAPSY, the Greek Association for Mood Disorders (MAZI), the and Salten Psychiatric Centre (Bodo, Norway) implemented a project in the following stages: a) Development of the Training Module, b) Development of E-learning platform, adjust training material for e-learning course, c) Training of Trainers who will be involved in 10 key areas, d) Group therapy for depression and suicide prevention, e) Training of users in organizing self-help groups, f) Facilitation of Self-help groups through establishing Local Meeting Points, g) Evaluation, h) Dissemination. The project was implemented in selected areas in Attica and NE and W Cycladic islands, supporting existing services, actions and networks.
The project followed the 4-level intervention model for depression of the European Alliance against Depression (EPAPSY is an associate member) that is an evidence based approach using multilevel interventions.
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Impact on Society
The Citizens against Depression project put into practice several actions that were truly innovative for Greece. Experienced experts were part of the programme at every stage (planning, training sessions, evaluation, dissemination, public conferences) on a paid basis. Self-help groups for mental health problems such as depression are rare in Greece. And finally, structured group interventions are not yet incorporated into first-line mental health care, although they have proved to be both effective and low-cost. These three innovations were welcomed by the users. The role of social capital, the availability of social resources and the concept of personal recovery are key elements in supporting people with mental health problems and understanding the effectiveness of self-help groups and self-help interventions in general [15,16]. The next step will be to organise a strategic plan integrated into Greek national mental healthcare policy for supporting the setting-up of self-help groups across the country in a persisting period of socioeconomic crisis.
Thirty-eight mental health professionals were trained as psychoeducation group facilitators and as self-help group facilitator trainers. Overall, 140 mental health users were trained as self-help group facilitators. Ten psychoeducation groups took place with 120 participants in total. Five new self-help groups had already started meetings before the end of the programme. Apart from these results, it is important to notice that there was an impressive networking of 35 local stakeholders. Furthermore, 13 public informative events concerning depression and self-help groups took place (estimated overall attendance: 1450 persons).
https://sanp.ch/en/article/doi/sanp.2018.00556/
Initiative Location
Paros, Syros, Kea, Andros, Tinos, Irakleio, Chalandri, Kallithea, Galatsi, Trikala, Marousi
Working with Organization
HELLENIC ASSOCIATION MOOD DISORDERS “MAZI”, PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL SALTEN (NORWAY), RESEARCH LABORATORY MAISON BLANCHE HOSPITAL (FRANCE)
This project ςαs funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway under the EEA Grants Greek NGO Programme “We are all Citizens”. The Bodossaki Foundation was the Fund Operator of this Programme. The Programme aims to strengthen civil society and enhance the contribution of NGOs to social justice, democracy and sustainable development.
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Workers Participation
42 EMPLOYES 17 VOLUNTEERS
Benefits for Οrganization
- Change of attitudes regarding self help, involvement of mental health service users in organization and provision of services, development of a cost effective support model
- Support of services provided by EPAPSY at local level (assessment 150 people, support groups for 120 people)
- Development of training material
- Networking (38 organizations involved in implementation)
- Dissemination (42 media publications, 11 public events, scientific publications
Connection with Global Goals
