Vida Center

Country

Czech Republic

Description

Information-counselling centers giving information and advice in the area of mental health and disorders. People with psychotic disorders are mainly working here; they use their own experience in their work in the centre and do not hesitate to speak openly about it. They learn themselves at the same time how to work in a structured way, according to rules; they learn what it means to have responsibility for themselves as well as is for a system of care for people with mental disorders.

Aims

Provide information and advice in the area of mental health and disorders, about the system of mental health care, providers and users of services.

Areas

Health, Social services

Effectiveness

Quantitative indicators: 390 clients and 483 demands in 2005 (64% women, 36% men); 69% users, 11% parents and relatives, 4% experts from different area, 16% from general public.
Qualitative indicators: every contact in the Vida Center is documented with the anonymity of clients assured. The activities of the Vida Center are evaluated once a month by a coordinator and workers of Vida. Vida and its representatives work at the moment on developing a system of quality control and standards of work.

Sustainability

The expenses of Vida Centers in the whole of Czech Republic in 2005 were 45.000 Euros (salaries, deliveries, energy, traveling expenses, services, etc.)
A strategic work plan is made for 3-5 years; this plan is actualised every year according to the present situation and concretised for that year.

Innovation

Development of users activities in the Czech Republic is very gradual; new groups are arising only very slowly. This project can show how users' activity can have a positive influence on style of care and living conditions. In 2002 already, it filled a gap in the system of care of people with mental disorders. Services of Vida Centers are utilised also by parents and relatives, sometimes professionals and other people who are interested in this area.

Added Value

People with mental disorders are endangered by social isolation, stigmatisation and discrimination in the field of work. The project enables a change of this adverse state caused by mental illness by increasing the possibility of available information about the issue of mental health and the system of care. At the same time it connects the users, which leads to their activation, taking over responsibility for themselves and for the whole system of care. It supports the independence of care from professionals and the development of users groups. Workers of Vida Centres are somehow a bridge between users, parents, relatives and public institutions. Vida Centres fulfill a system of care of people with mental disorders; they offer the own experience of the workers, which has quite a different dimension than the experiences of professionals.

Transferability

This project is transferable to different target group (for example physically handicapped) as well as to other countries. Organisations in Lithuania and Slovakia decided to establish in accordance to this model users´ information centers as well. There is low complication at the time of implementation of the project into praxis.

Mainstreaming Potential

Direct involvement of users is very essential to the formation and assertion of all official documents and methodologies in the area of mental health care. This way, and the immediate feedback of the people who are concerned by the documents is ensured. And thus, this project obtains its very important role for national as well as local policy.

Costs of the Project

Expenses of Vida Centers in the whole of Czech Republic in 2005 were 45,000 Euros.

People involved in the Project (number of people and profession)

There are eight Vida Centers in the Czech Republic. In each, there are on average 4-6 workers (users), 1 coordinator (professional), 1 expert consultant and deputy workers (users).

Strengths and Weaknesses of the Project

The strengths of the project are its sophistication and clarity for clients. They like the fact that it is a kind of activity "they do for themselves" (in the sense of a self-help initiative). Users evaluate this project as a good initiative, filling a gap among activities in the area of mental health and enforcing existing cooperation with professionals. Weaknesses of the project could be seen in its sustainability and financial aspects.

Contact Person for the Project

Mgr. Jitka Styblíková
vida@vidacentrum.cz