CPG for Psychosocial Interventions in Severe Mental ... - GuÃaSalud
CPG for Psychosocial Interventions in Severe Mental ... - GuÃaSalud
CPG for Psychosocial Interventions in Severe Mental ... - GuÃaSalud
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8. The role of user and family associations<br />
The Associations of Families and Users have represented an important advance over the last 30<br />
years both due to their contributions <strong>in</strong> the development of a previously unknown perspective,<br />
identify<strong>in</strong>g the needs and rights of people with severe mental illness, and due to the <strong>in</strong><strong>for</strong>mation,<br />
support and lobby they carry out. Thanks to these organisations, closely l<strong>in</strong>ked to the community<br />
care of mental health, it has been possible to foster the creation of new healthcare resources <strong>in</strong><br />
response to the psychiatric de-<strong>in</strong>stitutionalisation <strong>in</strong> many countries.<br />
The families, who are very often the only more direct support that people with SMI have,<br />
now play an active part <strong>in</strong> the therapeutic process of rehabilitation or recovery, and are considered<br />
as just another therapeutic agent. Obviat<strong>in</strong>g their <strong>in</strong>volvement <strong>in</strong> the development and implementation<br />
of care programmes would mean ignor<strong>in</strong>g the needs to improve the quality of life of the<br />
people affected. Their contribution <strong>in</strong> the fight aga<strong>in</strong>st the stigma of mental illness, the demand <strong>for</strong><br />
accessibility to health and social resources with<strong>in</strong> the parameters of equality and recognition of<br />
full rights <strong>for</strong> people with SMI, has been and is fundamental to cont<strong>in</strong>ue advanc<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the achievement<br />
of these objectives.<br />
The creation and consolidation <strong>in</strong> the entire Spanish territory of groups of pyschoeducation<br />
or school of families, has helped provide these families with the necessary <strong>in</strong><strong>for</strong>mation and<br />
strategies to cope with the difficulties represented by liv<strong>in</strong>g with a relation diagnosed with SMI.<br />
Peers groups, or self-help groups, have also been effective and gratify<strong>in</strong>g <strong>for</strong> the families. The<br />
Prospect tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g method, <strong>for</strong> example, a programme used <strong>in</strong> different countries and which was<br />
promoted by EUFAMI (European Federation of Associations of Families of People with <strong>Mental</strong><br />
Illness) appears as an <strong>in</strong>strument of union and tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g <strong>for</strong> the three groups <strong>in</strong>volved: people with<br />
mental illness, family members and mental health professionals. The role of these groups, <strong>in</strong> the<br />
<strong>in</strong>ternational scenario, covers not only mutual help activities and other services, but also the defence<br />
of the rights and <strong>in</strong>terests of the group, education <strong>for</strong> the community, impact<strong>in</strong>g the <strong>Mental</strong><br />
Health policy-makers, report<strong>in</strong>g the stigma, and the discrim<strong>in</strong>ation, demand<strong>in</strong>g an improvement<br />
of the services.<br />
The groups of people with mental illness who, <strong>in</strong> many countries are identified as groups<br />
of consumers or users, follow, <strong>in</strong> their orig<strong>in</strong>s, a similar dynamic to the organisations of family<br />
members, although somewhat later. They have progressively played a more <strong>in</strong>fluential role <strong>in</strong><br />
healthcare and legislative policies, as well as <strong>in</strong> the development of actions to help other people<br />
with mental illnesses. These groups have stood out <strong>for</strong> their educational and social awarenessrais<strong>in</strong>g<br />
role, due to their actions, report<strong>in</strong>g practices perceived as negative practices and protect<strong>in</strong>g<br />
their rights, and <strong>for</strong> the development and management of help services.<br />
The Spanish Federation of Associations of Families and People with <strong>Mental</strong> Illnesses<br />
(FEAFES) was created <strong>in</strong> Spa<strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong> 1983, as a state organisation to group together and represent<br />
the entire associative movement of families and people with mental illness. The first European<br />
Congress of Families was held <strong>in</strong> June 1990, which led to the foundation of EUFAMI <strong>in</strong> 1992.<br />
We can sum up the ma<strong>in</strong> tasks and contributions of these organisations:<br />
1. Collaboration <strong>in</strong> the preparation of healthcare, plann<strong>in</strong>g policies and legislation<br />
In the political field, the associative movements of families and people with mental illness<br />
have a historical function of demand<strong>in</strong>g improvements <strong>in</strong> the care of people with mental<br />
illness. Currently these movements, <strong>in</strong> Europe and <strong>in</strong> other countries, also have an active function<br />
<strong>in</strong> the design, development and assessment of policies, as <strong>in</strong>dicated by the World Health<br />
Organisation (WHO) and as <strong>in</strong>cluded <strong>in</strong> the actions of the European Commission (Green Paper<br />
CLINICAL PRACTICE GUIDELINES FOR PSICHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS IN SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESS 133