Mainstreaming Mental Disability Policies – Final Conference, 06-07 October 2006, Brussels
The final conference of the project
"Mainstreaming Mental Disability Policies" presented the outcomes of
the project and raised awareness of the fact that people with
disabilities, including people with intellectual disabilities as well
as people with mental health problems, are too often discriminated and
marginalised. The aim of the project was therefore to promote the
mainstreaming of mental disability policies to ensure the same services
and structures for all. The conference, organised by the three
implementing partners of the project - Inclusion Europe, Global
Initiative on Psychiatry and the Open Society Institute -, was attended
amongst others by the people with intellectual disabilities and mental
health problems who had been trained in the frame of the project to
promote the mainstreaming of mental disability policies at the local
level.
Mary Van Dievel, MHE Director, gave a presentation on the contribution of the Green Paper on Mental Health to the social inclusion of people with mental health problems. She emphasised that social exclusion is a major public health risk that affects the mental health of a large number of people in the European Union. However, there is a scope for the Green Paper on Mental Health to act as a catalyst to promote social inclusion through:
Mary Van Dievel, MHE Director, gave a presentation on the contribution of the Green Paper on Mental Health to the social inclusion of people with mental health problems. She emphasised that social exclusion is a major public health risk that affects the mental health of a large number of people in the European Union. However, there is a scope for the Green Paper on Mental Health to act as a catalyst to promote social inclusion through:
- early interventions in childhood;
- support for employment;
- promotion of social networks;
- flexible funding and use of EU structural funding;
- empowerment through consumer-directed use of resources;
- legislative measures to ensure conformance.
Non governmental
organisations play an important role in promoting the social inclusion
of marginalised groups and are a key resource in pursuing the
objectives of the Green Paper, although they are often under-funded! To
all these challenges identified Mental Health Europe would like to add
the importance of involving people with mental health problems and
their carers at all levels of decision making. They know best what is
good for them!
Final partners meeting of the Grundtvig I project, Edinburgh (UK), 29-30 October 2006
The final partners meeting of the Grundtvig I
project took place in Edinburgh, on 29-30 October 2006. It gathered
representatives of the 6 partner organisations – the Polish
Association for Child and Family Mental Health, the Czech Association
for Mental Health, the Romanian Institute for Educational Sciences,
Opportunity Associates (Romania), Mental Health Europe (Belgium), and
InterMinds (UK) – together with the coordinator of the
project, the Estuar Foundation (Romania).
The Grundtvig I project, “Investment in Quality – Training Centres in Mental Health”, began in 2005. Its objectives are threefold:
The Grundtvig I project, “Investment in Quality – Training Centres in Mental Health”, began in 2005. Its objectives are threefold:
- to develop a training package in the field of mental health in order to improve the impact of social services offered to people with mental health problems;
- to develop information, guidance and facilitate exchange of knowledge in the field of mental health;
- and to promote the training network in order to inspire lifelong learning among the partner countries.
For this purpose, the partners
worked together to develop and test a training course in mental health
for a target audience (staff working in this field, representatives of
the local authorities and administrations, service users…)
and to train 15 trainers from the partner countries (Poland, Czech
Republic and Romania). They also developed tools and methods for
assessment, validation and certification, as well as promotion and
awareness campaigns.
The project is now entering its final stage, as it is due to end on 31 January 2007.
The meeting was thus an opportunity, for the different partners, to assess what has been achieved so far and to talk about the future.
They agreed on the forthcoming release of 9 information leaflets covering various topics – such as the risk of social exclusion and discrimination, employment, stress management, risk factors for mental health problems or motivational interviewing - and targeted either to the general public or professionals of the mental health sector.
They also discussed about the deliverance of the 12 courses in mental health in the three partner countries (Romania, Czech Republic and Poland). It appeared that whereas the situation is very satisfying in Poland and Romania, where almost all courses have been delivered, the training courses will only start in November in the Czech Republic, due to unpredicted circumstances.
After compilation of the partners’ reports, the Estuar Foundation will draft the final report of the project, which has to be sent to the European Commission.
Fanny Muller, MHE Information Officer, represented MHE at the meeting.
For more information: contact person, Luminitia Costache, Project Coordinator, Tel +4021 3321771, E-mail luminitia.costache@estuar.org, or see the Estuar Foundation website, http://www.estuar.org
The project is now entering its final stage, as it is due to end on 31 January 2007.
The meeting was thus an opportunity, for the different partners, to assess what has been achieved so far and to talk about the future.
They agreed on the forthcoming release of 9 information leaflets covering various topics – such as the risk of social exclusion and discrimination, employment, stress management, risk factors for mental health problems or motivational interviewing - and targeted either to the general public or professionals of the mental health sector.
They also discussed about the deliverance of the 12 courses in mental health in the three partner countries (Romania, Czech Republic and Poland). It appeared that whereas the situation is very satisfying in Poland and Romania, where almost all courses have been delivered, the training courses will only start in November in the Czech Republic, due to unpredicted circumstances.
After compilation of the partners’ reports, the Estuar Foundation will draft the final report of the project, which has to be sent to the European Commission.
Fanny Muller, MHE Information Officer, represented MHE at the meeting.
For more information: contact person, Luminitia Costache, Project Coordinator, Tel +4021 3321771, E-mail luminitia.costache@estuar.org, or see the Estuar Foundation website, http://www.estuar.org
New online document on the MHE website!
Dear readers,
We are pleased to inform you that the French version of the report on the MHE Seminar, "The EC Green Paper on Mental Health: Time for Action!," which took place on 12 May 2006, is now available on our website at:
http://www.mhe-sme.org/fr/publications/Compte_rendu_du_seminaire_du_12.05.06.pdf
We are pleased to inform you that the French version of the report on the MHE Seminar, "The EC Green Paper on Mental Health: Time for Action!," which took place on 12 May 2006, is now available on our website at:
http://www.mhe-sme.org/fr/publications/Compte_rendu_du_seminaire_du_12.05.06.pdf
MHE representation at various meetings
On 2 October, Mary Van
Dievel, Director, had a meeting with Mariana Atanasova to discuss the
setting up of a mental health association in Bulgaria.
On 3 October, Josée Van Remoortel, Senior Policy Adviser, participated in a meeting with Mrs Wallis Goelen, DG Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, to discuss the European Coalition for Community Living activities.
On 4 October, Josée Van Remoortel, participated in the European Coalition for Community Living Management meeting.
On 5 October, Sogol Noorani, Project Coordinator, attended the meeting "Preventing Exclusion: EU legal limitations and minority safeguards in the accession process of Bulgaria, Romania and the Western Balkans", organised by the Minority Rights Group International (MRG) in Brussels (Belgium).
On 6 October, Mary Van Dievel and Sogol Noorani participated in the conference “Mainstreaming Disability Policies” organised in Brussels by Inclusion Europe, the Geneva Initiative on Psychiatry and the Open Society Mental Health Institute. Mary Van Dievel gave a presentation on “The contribution of the Green Paper on Mental Health to the social inclusion of people with mental health problems”. (see p.2)
On 9 October, Elisabeth Muschik, Vice-President, visited the MHE office and participated in the Social Platform Steering Group.
On 10 October, Josée Van Remoortel, participated in the Social Platform Membership Accreditation meeting.
On 11 October, Mari Fresu, Project Coordinator, attended the DG SANCO stakeholders' consultation meeting.
On 11-15 October, Rita Donabauer (Pro Mente Austria) represented MHE at the Danube Symposium on Psychiatry, which took place in Albina (Bulgaria).
On 12 October, Mary Van Dievel met with Nicola Bedlington, Director of the European Patients Forum, to discuss possible collaboration.
On 16 and 17 October, Malgorzata Kmita, President, Elisabeth Muschik and Sogol Noorani, participated in the 5th Round Table on Poverty and Social Exclusion, organised in Tampere (Finland) in the frame of the Finnish EU Presidency in collaboration with the European Commission’s Social Inclusion Unit, DG Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities.
On 16 October, Mary Van Dievel met with Joanna Dupont, from The Centre, to discuss collaboration possibilities.
On 18 October, Mari Fresu participated in the European Public Health Alliance Policy meeting.
On 20 October, MHE staff met with Mr Arild Sundberg from the Norwegian Ministry of Labour and Welfare.
On 29-30 October, Fanny Muller, Information Officer, attended the final meeting for the Grundtvig II project on "Investment in quality – Training centres in mental health" in Edinburgh (Scotland). (see p.2-3)
On 3 October, Josée Van Remoortel, Senior Policy Adviser, participated in a meeting with Mrs Wallis Goelen, DG Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, to discuss the European Coalition for Community Living activities.
On 4 October, Josée Van Remoortel, participated in the European Coalition for Community Living Management meeting.
On 5 October, Sogol Noorani, Project Coordinator, attended the meeting "Preventing Exclusion: EU legal limitations and minority safeguards in the accession process of Bulgaria, Romania and the Western Balkans", organised by the Minority Rights Group International (MRG) in Brussels (Belgium).
On 6 October, Mary Van Dievel and Sogol Noorani participated in the conference “Mainstreaming Disability Policies” organised in Brussels by Inclusion Europe, the Geneva Initiative on Psychiatry and the Open Society Mental Health Institute. Mary Van Dievel gave a presentation on “The contribution of the Green Paper on Mental Health to the social inclusion of people with mental health problems”. (see p.2)
On 9 October, Elisabeth Muschik, Vice-President, visited the MHE office and participated in the Social Platform Steering Group.
On 10 October, Josée Van Remoortel, participated in the Social Platform Membership Accreditation meeting.
On 11 October, Mari Fresu, Project Coordinator, attended the DG SANCO stakeholders' consultation meeting.
On 11-15 October, Rita Donabauer (Pro Mente Austria) represented MHE at the Danube Symposium on Psychiatry, which took place in Albina (Bulgaria).
On 12 October, Mary Van Dievel met with Nicola Bedlington, Director of the European Patients Forum, to discuss possible collaboration.
On 16 and 17 October, Malgorzata Kmita, President, Elisabeth Muschik and Sogol Noorani, participated in the 5th Round Table on Poverty and Social Exclusion, organised in Tampere (Finland) in the frame of the Finnish EU Presidency in collaboration with the European Commission’s Social Inclusion Unit, DG Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities.
On 16 October, Mary Van Dievel met with Joanna Dupont, from The Centre, to discuss collaboration possibilities.
On 18 October, Mari Fresu participated in the European Public Health Alliance Policy meeting.
On 20 October, MHE staff met with Mr Arild Sundberg from the Norwegian Ministry of Labour and Welfare.
On 29-30 October, Fanny Muller, Information Officer, attended the final meeting for the Grundtvig II project on "Investment in quality – Training centres in mental health" in Edinburgh (Scotland). (see p.2-3)