The project goal was to provide the infrastructure and conditions necessary for the opening of a multifunctional centre for community mental health services. The centre is based in Slatina neighbourhood, Sofia and provides services for people whose social functioning and everyday life have been affected by severe mental illness. 

Within the project a building was renovated and furnished for the needs of the centre; it offers a day care centre and sheltered home programme for people with mental problems as well as information centre for mental health. In parallel with the offered services training was provided for professionals, users of mental health services and their relatives on partnership in the conditions of the new system of services. This training contributed not only to the higher involvement in the services offered by the centre but also to the better quality of the community based mental health care. 

The Centre for mental health services in the community is aimed at providing services to people with severe mental illnesses aged 18 – 65 and has the capacity of catering for 100 people. Eight people are catered for in the sheltered home programme. At least 35 people will be offered services and care within one or more programmes of the day care centre. Various free time activities are available for the clients of the centre: computer club, applied art activities, visits to social and cultural events, film club, cooking club. 

Since the beginning of the project the different training modules and discussions have been attended by 15 GPs, 17 journalists from national media, representatives of 17 job agency, employers and labour bureaus, more than 90 students from secondary schools, 9 university students – volunteers, 20 relatives and 20 users of the mental health services. 

Within the project a mental health hot line was set up. 

Once a month – the last Friday of every month – the centre opens its doors to the general public. Everybody who is interested can visit the Centre, learn about the services which are offered, establish contacts with the clients and the staff. 

The social services offered in the sheltered home programme and the day care centre are delegated state activities and will continue to cater for the needs of the people for good quality mental health care. 

Global Initiative on Psychiatry Foundation
Valentina Hristakeva 
1 Маljovitsa str., floor 2 
Sofia 1000 
Теl. 02 / 987 78 75, fax: 02 / 980 93 68 
vhristakeva@gip-global.org