Self-help Program
Since 1998 Armenian Mental Health Foundation with financial
and technical support of British Hamlet Trust charity started the process
of assisstance to users and ex-users of mental health services in creation
of self-help groups. The series of projects aimed to challenge and assist
users and ex users in starting self-help groups and own NGO-s.
We prepared and printed brochures "Self
help in Mental Health","How to Start NGO" and
“NGO-s and Mental Health Reforms”. We form 4 groups of users and
ex-users in Yerevan, Gyumry and Vanadzor and held a series of seminars
and workshops on Self-Help Groups and Organizations in Mental Health
for those groups. It was innovative project for Armenia. The process
of involvement of users is a complicated process in any country by definition.
At the same time the results were encouraging and we continue our joint
efforts. The most active group was formed in Vanadzor. It was difficult
to imagine during first meetings that the process will develop that
fast. The seed of the group was formed and without external support
group start to act. Key role in that process was played by Dr. Gayane
Kalantaryan, Director of Lory
Regional Psychiatric Hospital, Board Member of Armenian Mental Health
Foundation. She provide group with room and gathering place, telephone
and other necessities and encouraged the activities. It should be mentioned
that Lory Regional Psychiatric Hospital, located in Vanadzor is probably
the best in the country not only with the logistic arrangements, but
also by the attitude of personnel. And this is Dr. Kalantaryan who succeed
to reach this. Probably this is one of the reasons why she was elected
in 1999 to Vanadzor City Hall. Members of self-help groups start to
participate in different meetings, seminars and training events. In
1998-1999 they have participated in Advocacy
Training. In October 1999 co-ordinator of the group participated
in regional training event in Krakow, Poland organized by The Hamlet
Trust where he has a unique possibility to meet colleagues from all
over the region and share the ideas and experience. In 1999-2000 three
members of the group participated in series of residential seminars
in Tsakhkadzor. Then more, Tepla event, Caucasian
Advocacy Training, local conferences...
Since 1999 The Hamlet Trust generously extended its support and provide
additional funding for establishment of Contact Point for self help
group outside the hospital. At the moment in the very central avenue
of Vanadzor (former Lenin Avenue) everyday people are gatherng together
just to talk, to share, to be at home. Armenian adapted version of Getting
Started will be published and memebrs of self-help groups will have
possibility to share their experience with colleagues in other cities
of Armenia.
The main result of the project are the groups of users and ex-users
in major cities of our country, which can become the basis of users
organization in Armenia.
In 2001 City council of Vanadzor provide Armneian Mental
Health Foundation with facility for establishmnet of country council
centre.