Mental Health Stream of CRDP
MH
Program Purpose: Need for Mental Health Stream Developments
The
Mental Health Stream of the Program is responding to a number of major pressures
found in Russia:
- There are very few models of community practice to help guide the development
of community-based mental health services. We have been aware that the mental
health services are badly strapped for resources in western Russia, the critical
issue being the one of stigma in Russian society as it affects people with psychiatric
impairments.
- Regions remote from Central Russia are in need for developing professional
training and knowledge capacity, as well as for innovative alternative service
models, in order to promote the reform from an institution-based to a community-based
practice in Mental Health services.
- There is a lack of knowledge and capacity within Russia's mental health
system to address the needs of people who have experienced the deep trauma associated
with war and other forms of violent loss. The mental health component of the
project in this region will focus on developing such expertise, and working
in conjunction with social workers, educators, police and others in developing
capacity in Russia in working with people such tragic experiences. In Stavropol
Krai, a number of natural disasters, terrorist acts and other tragic events
in the recent years caused a significant increase of forced migration, and high
social and psychological tension among the population. By the beginning of 2003,
the number of registered forced migrants in Stavropol Krai reached 18,665. According
to different authors, the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
among persons who survived severe stress varies between 20% and 50%.
Program
Components
The Program is driven by Russia
priorities that are identified and shared by Russian disability community, governments
and academics. The four components pursued are:
- education and professional development,
- developing alternative service delivery models,
- new policy promotion, and
- creating knowledge network.
Program
Regions
The Program will be pursued in three
main regions at the outset:
- North Caucusus Region (centred in Stavropol),
- Central Russia (centred in Moscow), and
- Northern Region (centered in Omsk).
Mental
Health Stream Outcome Objectives
- To develop a cohort of mental
health professionals in regions centered on Moscow, Stavropol and Omsk with
basic expertise in community mental health rehabilitation philosophies and approaches,
with sub-groups having specialized expertise in working with victims of trauma
(Stavropol Krai) and providing consultative and support services at a distance
(Omsk).
- To develop 3 – 5 demonstration/model programs, each designed to
focus on a unique dimension of mental health reform as follows:
- In Moscow and Central Russia and Omsk region: to develop a comprehensive community
mental health rehabilitation model. In Central Russia, the model will be developed
on a sub-regionalized basis involving at least three sub-regions.
- In Stavropol Krai: to work with victims of war- and disaster-related trauma,
particularly children and their families, with particular emphasis on those
most severely affected, with the objective of assisting their integration into
normal life.
- Development of parent and mental health service user support and self-advocacy
groups and organizations as part of each of the model programs.
- Contribute to the development
and implementation of public policies supportive of community mental health
rehabilitation based on experiences with and lessons learned from the model
programs.
- Contribute to the formation of National (Russia-based) Information and
Knowledge based Network of personnel working in NGO, educational, service, research,
government and business sectors which support the social inclusion of persons
with disabilities.
MH
Stream Program Partners
Key Canadian
Partners
Community Rehabilitation and Disability
Studies Program, University of Calgary
Associate Canadian
Partners
Alberta Mental Health Board
Alberta Mental Health Self Help Network
Alberta Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health (AAMIMH)Alberta Mental
Health Board
Canadian Mental Health Association (Alberta)
Schizophrenia Society of Alberta – Calgary Chapter
Calgary Regional Health Authority
Key Russian
Partners
Moscow
Research Institute of Psychiatry (MRIP)
All-Russia Society “New
Choices” (a public organization for parents and families of people
with psychiatric disabilities)
Associate Russian
Partners
Stavropol
Krai Clinical Psychiatric Hospital # 1
Omsk Clinical Psychiatric Hospital
Moscow City Psychiatric Hospital # 10
Tambov Regional Psychiatric Hospital
St. Petersburg City Psychiatric Hospital # 1
Ryazan Regional Clinical Psychiatric Hospital
