Hearing Voices Self-Help Group and Relatives Self-Help Group
Name of the Country
Italy
Project Description
This project has been established in Prato by AISMe with the support of the city council and of the mental health service. At the beginning, the user group has been formed within the service, in a second phase it has been transferred in a place owned by the city council. The relative group has been established later in accordance with the user group in order to involve everyone in the project in this new methodology (inspired by M. Romme).
Project Aims
The project aims to help people to cope with their voices (both users and relatives) and to fight the stigma, since in Italy people hearing voices are considered very seriously mentally ill.
Area
Education, Health, Social services, Training
Effectiveness
The project's activities, methodologies and approaches are useful with regard to the needs of people with mental health problems, in access to health and social services, education, training services, as well as in the protection of their civil and human rights.
The project's costs (human and financial resources) correspond to the benefits (increased social inclusion) resulting from it.
Sustainability
The project's impacts are in line with the needs of people with mental health problems.
There are some necessary capabilities or inputs of the organisation implementing the practice (knowledge regarding this new methodology, financial and human resources, cooperation with all stakeholders, long-term strategic planning) that are needed to ensure that the project's sustainability.
Innovation
There are innovative aspects of the project and its methodology of delivery to people with mental health problems. It is effective in terms of quantitative and qualitative results.
Added Value
The project's activities, methodologies and impacts make a significant contribution with regard to the needs of people with mental health problems.
Transferability
The practice and its related materials are potentially transferable to other countries and communities, yet flexible and adaptable to local conditions facilitating the feeling of ownership. There are many examples abroad. It is practical, low in complexity, manageable within local resources and reasonable with regard to human resources and financial costs.
The practice contains guidelines for replication, including statements as to which elements in the programme are vital for maintaining its effectiveness and which elements are open for adaptation to local needs. There is an international network "Intervoice" which allows exchanges of experiences and supervision.
Mainstreaming Potential
The practice is relevant to national and local policy and it has an added value compared to policies deficits.
12. Costs of the Project
15.000 Euros per year
People involved in the Project (number of people and profession)
3 professionals (1 from AISMe and 2 from the service), 10 voice hearers an 7 relatives
Strengths and Weaknesses of the Project
Strengths of the project: self-help for the people; fighting the stigma.
Weaknesses of the project: dominance of the medical model.
Contact Person for the Project
Donatella Miccinesi, Pino Pini
Via Forlanini 64
50100 Florence
Italy
Tel.: + 390 338 2998938
Fax: + 390 55 413049
donatella.miccinesi@virgilio.it