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About us
"Global Initiative on Psychiatry, a leading
nongovernmental organization based in the Netherlands, is coordinating this
innovative four-year project with funding from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
of The Netherlands. Its overall aim is to improve the quality of life and reduce
the suffering of people in the region with HIV/AIDS who also have mental health
problems, and of their partners, carers and families.
HIV/AIDS is a major problem in the target countries of the project. Average
infection rates are low, but are high among particular vulnerable groups -
particularly injecting drug users - and threaten to escalate into a full-scale
epidemic unless urgent action is taken now. High quality care and recent
innovations in treatment are rarely available to the people most in need.
The nature and severity of HIV/AIDS often leads to
serious mental health problems for those infected as well as their partners,
families and friends. HIV-positive people who are depressed or suffering other
psychological problems such as drug and alcohol abuse are less likely to follow
treatment/prevention regimes and more likely to behave in risky ways. In
addition, some people with a mental illness or a learning disability are at
greater risk of being infected.This cluster of interacting problems deserves
special attention but is mostly neglected worldwide. To counteract the double
stigma and lack of local resources, external expertise and funding is needed in
the target countries, to help change attitudes and introduce better services and
support
The main implementation mechanism of the project is the establishment of a
network of expert centers on mental health and AIDS in the region. These new
centers, mostly based in existing nongovernmental organizations, act as
catalysts for change, and as focal points for recruiting, developing, supporting
and networking people of varied backgrounds who are or can become change agents.
The multidisciplinary teams of center staff comprise people with a wide range of
experiences and skills, including psychologists, social workers, researchers and
doctors with specialist knowledge in HIV/AIDS and/or mental health. People
living with HIV/AIDS are the focus of all activities and wherever possible are
invited to take the lead in saying what they need and participating in center
activities.
The centers' work programs vary according to local needs and circumstances, but
typically include:
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Needs assessment and related research on HIV/AIDS
and mental health.
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Collection, translation and dissemination of
relevant information for people living with HIV/AIDS, service providers and
the public.
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Education and training for mental health, AIDS
and primary care professionals, psychologists, social workers, community
activists and other interested partners.
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Promoting better services and support to meet
the psychological needs of people with HIV/AIDS, including pilot programs.
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Advocacy work with policy-makers and
opinion-formers.
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Networking with other organizations in the
fields of HIV/AIDS, harm reduction and mental health.
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Holding seminars and conferences.
In Phase 1 of the project, centers were established
in 2006 in Georgia, Kyrgyzstan and the Republic of Moldova. In Phase 2, new
centers are being established in 2007 in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria,
Kazakhstan, Serbia and Tajikistan. Their core funding comes from a thematic
grant from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs of 3.6 million euros, with
additional funding of 105,000 euros from the Open Society Institute. The project
runs from January 1, 2005 until December 31, 2008.
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Global Initiative in
Psychiatry, the Netherlands non-governmental organisation, on the basis of
Public Fund «Mental Health» realises in territory of Kazakhstan the project «Mental
health and HIV/AIDS» in which frameworks the Expert centre is opened. Financial
support to the project was rendered by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of
Holland and Institute of an open Society. PF «Mental Health» has been based in
2006. The Fund main objective is rising of level of mental health and mental
well-being of the population of Kazakhstan. The problems facing PF «Mental
health», are:
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Development of preventive actions for the prevention of problems of mental
health in various levels of population;
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The Collecting and studying of regional experience on problems of mental
health among various social groups. Carrying out of sociological researches in
various social groups;
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Creation of uniform information-legal base on a theme of mental health;
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Struggle against discrimination concerning socially-vulnerable groups in
sphere of mental health;
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Informing of experts, (by working out and the edition of information materials,
carrying out of seminars and trainings), working in sphere of mental health, the
public - concerning mental health and to legal aspects of access to medical
services.
In the work the organisation is guided by the national legislation, the norms of
international law guaranteeing encouragement and assistance to participation of
civil sector in management, and also the partner contract signed with
« Global Initiative in Psychiatry».
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