Pathways to social Integration for people with mental health problems: the establishment of social cooperatives in Greece

Host Country : Greece

Place and date : Athens , 6. - 7.10.2005

Peer countries : Czech Republic - Estonia - France - Latvia - Malta - Poland - Romania

Since 1999, the Greek government has been implementing a national mental health reform programme called Psychargos, which promotes the de-institutionalisation and socio-economic integration of persons with mental health problems.

One of the core problems it aims to tackle is the exclusion that mentally ill persons often face in the labour market. Many employers perceive them as incapable or potentially dangerous, and do not want to employ them. Often they are dismissed when they experience a short-term health setback or when the financial support provided by the state expires.

Against this background, in 1999 the Greek government established, as part of a general mental health reform programme, a legal framework (law 2716/1999, article 12) that supports the setting up of Social Co-operatives with Limited Liability (Koi.S.P.E.) for the target group of mentally ill persons, which does not include the mentally disabled (i.e. people who are mentally retarded or have a generalised learning disability).

This initiative represents a new pathway to social inclusion for this vulnerable group, and serves both therapeutic and entrepreneurial purposes. The co-operatives give their members the opportunity to regain 'dormant' skills or to acquire new skills through on-the-job training and work experience, and to get a permanent job in a protected environment or in the mainstream labour market. At the same time, members of the co-operatives learn to work collectively and take responsibility. Work activities are carried out by both mentally ill persons and non-mentally ill persons in order to avoid a 'sheltered' work situation.

The first co-operative under this programme was established in November 2002 on the island of Leros. It now employs 54 people of whom 32 are mentally ill. Four more co-operatives have been established - two in Athens and one each on the islands of Corfu and Chios - but are not yet in full operation. Five more will be established in 2005.

Agenda - | en |

Peer Review manager

Mr Wolfgang Schlegel ( INBAS )

Document Actions

Pathways to social Integration for people with mental health problems: the establishment of social cooperatives in Greece

Host Country : Greece

Place and date : Athens , 6. - 7.10.2005

Peer countries : Czech Republic - Estonia - France - Latvia - Malta - Poland - Romania

Peer Review manager

Related documents