EUROPE
Association for Regional Development and Mental Health (EPAPSY)
Member: NGO Premium
Since: 05.07.2012
Since: 05.07.2012
For the rights of people with mental health problemss
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NGO
The Association for Regional Development and Mental Health, EPAPSY is a non-governmental, non-profit organisation, which operates in the field of psychosocial rehabilitation and mental health promotion.
MISSION
EPAPSY was founded with the joint purpose of a) promoting mental health in regional Greece and urban city centres, b) advancing scientific knowledge through research and training, c) implementing and disseminating innovative interventions according to evidence-based practices in the fields of social psychiatry and psychosocial rehabilitation and d) promoting human rights of people with mental disabilities.
HISTORY
EPAPSY was established in 1988, as a non-governmental, non-profit organisation, focusing on the overall promotion of mental health in Greece. EPAPSY was founded and led by psychiatrist Dr. Stelios Stylianidis and governed by a five-member Board of Directors.
From its inception, EPAPSY endorsed the movement for the de-institutionalisation of the chronically mentally ill and became an integral partner to the Psychiatric Reform Programme in Greece, which began by closing down the psychiatric hospital of Leros. Dr. Styliandis participated in a task force with Greek and foreign mental health experts, from Italy (Trieste), The Netherlands and Ireland focusing on the reform programme in Leros. In this context, EPAPSY developed a dual scope: the implementation innovations according to evidence-based practices in mental health, as well as the promotion of the fight against institutionalisation and the social exclusion of the mentally ill. Thus, it introduced a link between prevention for mental health on a local level and the movement for the deinstitutionalisation of the chronically mentally ill, while working towards reducing the stigma towards diversity.
During the Leros I and Leros II phases, EPAPSY initiated and established the first relationship for the island of Evia between an NGO and the Greek NHS, creating and operating two units in Chalkida, for the severely mentally ill, a hostel & a halfway house. The founder established the first community Mental Health Centre within the Greek NHS in Evia and became its first Director. From 2000 to 2010, EPAPSY also participated in the PSYCHARGOS Phase B programme. During this time, Dr. Stylianidis was appointed the mental health expert for the psychiatric reform programme in Cyprus (2003-2008) and EPAPSY became responsible for the operation of one residential facility in Penteli, Athens ; five residential facilities in Chalkida, Trikala, Lamia, Livadeia, and Eretria; two Mobile Units in North-East and West Cyclades, which provide psychiatric services for 12 islands with a population of 87,000 people; and one Day Centre in Melissia. In 2010, EPAPSY undertook the operation of one more residential facility in Lykovrysi (Athens), while another three facilities from Chalandri, Athens were added in 2011 (one residential facility and two joined residential facilities/halfway houses), reaching a total of 17 different units.
Currently, EPAPSY continues to expand the existing networks of mental health services and partners, taking on new partners both in Greece and internationally, working consistently towards upholding its aims and values. It has implemented numerous innovative strategies for the empowerment and the rights of mental health users, and developed intense collaboration with: the World Health Organization (WHO); the World Association for Psychosocial Rehabilitation (WAPR); the Établissement Public de Santé Mentale (EPSM) Lille-Métropole, a WHO Collaborating Centre; the Trieste Mental Health Department, a WHO Collaborating Centre; the Centre for Psychiatric Rehabilitation of Boston University; the International Mental Health Collaborating Network (IMHCN ) and the Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research. EPAPSY has also frequently been asked to collaborate as an expert with assisting other mental health organisations/networks to assist them with improving the quality of services rendered and implementing innovative interventions based on evidence-based practices, i.e. in Geugeli, FYROM.
SOURCES OF FUNDING, ANNUAL BUDGET AND AUDIT
EPAPSY operates under the supervision of the Ministry of Health, but functions under private law as a public body. It is regularly audited by SOL S.A. (Associated Certified Public Accountants, a société anonyme of Certified Public Accountants Auditors) the biggest company of Certified Public Accountants Auditors in the country and one of the top national firms of Certified Public Accountants Auditors in Europe. Additionally, the Ministry of Health performs regular audits both annually, and every 3 months.
Since its development, EPAPSY has been primarily funded by the Ministry of Health, the European Union and private donations. With a total of 17 different facilities, EPAPSY now maintains an annual budget that exceeds EUR 7,000,000. The project management capacity of EPAPSY was certified in 2010 by the Hellenic Organisation for Standardisation (ELOT) as part of the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF) guidelines.
For that purpose, EPAPSY has furnished proof of the application of a documented procedure system pertaining to the planning and maturity of operations– actions, tendering and awarding of contracts, monitoring and certification of the physical object and financial management process. Lastly, EPAPSY was also certified as a consultant for the ISO 9001:2000 for Mental Health and Psychosocial Rehabilitation.
MISSION
EPAPSY was founded with the joint purpose of a) promoting mental health in regional Greece and urban city centres, b) advancing scientific knowledge through research and training, c) implementing and disseminating innovative interventions according to evidence-based practices in the fields of social psychiatry and psychosocial rehabilitation and d) promoting human rights of people with mental disabilities.
HISTORY
EPAPSY was established in 1988, as a non-governmental, non-profit organisation, focusing on the overall promotion of mental health in Greece. EPAPSY was founded and led by psychiatrist Dr. Stelios Stylianidis and governed by a five-member Board of Directors.
From its inception, EPAPSY endorsed the movement for the de-institutionalisation of the chronically mentally ill and became an integral partner to the Psychiatric Reform Programme in Greece, which began by closing down the psychiatric hospital of Leros. Dr. Styliandis participated in a task force with Greek and foreign mental health experts, from Italy (Trieste), The Netherlands and Ireland focusing on the reform programme in Leros. In this context, EPAPSY developed a dual scope: the implementation innovations according to evidence-based practices in mental health, as well as the promotion of the fight against institutionalisation and the social exclusion of the mentally ill. Thus, it introduced a link between prevention for mental health on a local level and the movement for the deinstitutionalisation of the chronically mentally ill, while working towards reducing the stigma towards diversity.
During the Leros I and Leros II phases, EPAPSY initiated and established the first relationship for the island of Evia between an NGO and the Greek NHS, creating and operating two units in Chalkida, for the severely mentally ill, a hostel & a halfway house. The founder established the first community Mental Health Centre within the Greek NHS in Evia and became its first Director. From 2000 to 2010, EPAPSY also participated in the PSYCHARGOS Phase B programme. During this time, Dr. Stylianidis was appointed the mental health expert for the psychiatric reform programme in Cyprus (2003-2008) and EPAPSY became responsible for the operation of one residential facility in Penteli, Athens ; five residential facilities in Chalkida, Trikala, Lamia, Livadeia, and Eretria; two Mobile Units in North-East and West Cyclades, which provide psychiatric services for 12 islands with a population of 87,000 people; and one Day Centre in Melissia. In 2010, EPAPSY undertook the operation of one more residential facility in Lykovrysi (Athens), while another three facilities from Chalandri, Athens were added in 2011 (one residential facility and two joined residential facilities/halfway houses), reaching a total of 17 different units.
Currently, EPAPSY continues to expand the existing networks of mental health services and partners, taking on new partners both in Greece and internationally, working consistently towards upholding its aims and values. It has implemented numerous innovative strategies for the empowerment and the rights of mental health users, and developed intense collaboration with: the World Health Organization (WHO); the World Association for Psychosocial Rehabilitation (WAPR); the Établissement Public de Santé Mentale (EPSM) Lille-Métropole, a WHO Collaborating Centre; the Trieste Mental Health Department, a WHO Collaborating Centre; the Centre for Psychiatric Rehabilitation of Boston University; the International Mental Health Collaborating Network (IMHCN ) and the Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research. EPAPSY has also frequently been asked to collaborate as an expert with assisting other mental health organisations/networks to assist them with improving the quality of services rendered and implementing innovative interventions based on evidence-based practices, i.e. in Geugeli, FYROM.
SOURCES OF FUNDING, ANNUAL BUDGET AND AUDIT
EPAPSY operates under the supervision of the Ministry of Health, but functions under private law as a public body. It is regularly audited by SOL S.A. (Associated Certified Public Accountants, a société anonyme of Certified Public Accountants Auditors) the biggest company of Certified Public Accountants Auditors in the country and one of the top national firms of Certified Public Accountants Auditors in Europe. Additionally, the Ministry of Health performs regular audits both annually, and every 3 months.
Since its development, EPAPSY has been primarily funded by the Ministry of Health, the European Union and private donations. With a total of 17 different facilities, EPAPSY now maintains an annual budget that exceeds EUR 7,000,000. The project management capacity of EPAPSY was certified in 2010 by the Hellenic Organisation for Standardisation (ELOT) as part of the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF) guidelines.
For that purpose, EPAPSY has furnished proof of the application of a documented procedure system pertaining to the planning and maturity of operations– actions, tendering and awarding of contracts, monitoring and certification of the physical object and financial management process. Lastly, EPAPSY was also certified as a consultant for the ISO 9001:2000 for Mental Health and Psychosocial Rehabilitation.
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