The Society of Social Psychiatry and Mental Health (S.S.P & M.H.) is a non-profit, scientific organization, which was founded in 1981 by the child psychiatrist and psychoanalyst professor Panayiotis Sakellaropoulos. The S.S.P.& M.H. has made a significant contribution to Greece’s psychiatric reform based on the principles of social psychiatry by offering high quality psychiatric and psychological support services in order to ensure the population’s mental health and well-being. The S.S.P.& M.H. operates within the ideological framework of social psychiatry and all its prevention and therapeutic services are offered within the community. Particular emphasis is placed on the provision of out of hospital treatment and services in order to avoid hospitalization and institutionalization.
RESIDENTIAL HOUSES AND SEMI–AUTONOMOUS PROTECTED APARTMENTS
The S.S.P.&.M.H. supports the operation of residential houses and semi–autonomous protected apartments in Attica, Fokida, Lamia and Alexandroupoli. Both structures accommodate people with mental health problems aiming to upgrade the quality of their life, to help them develop their personal and social capabilities as well as to encourage their social integration. In residential houses, each patient follows his personal therapeutic program while participating in group therapies and implementing therapeutic activities, such as drama therapy and choro therapy.
Semi–autonomous protected apartments host people with psychosocial problems that can live more autonomously through a therapeutic model that mainly supports their reintegration in the community and their mental health stability.
DAY CENTRE FOR THE PSYCHOLOGICAL SUPPORT OF CANCER PATIENTS
The Day Centre for Psychological Support of Cancer Patients is in operation since November 2003. It offers a wide range of psychosocial services (i.e. psychological support and counselling, individual and group psychotherapy, dance therapy and relaxation techniques) in order to help cancer patients and their relatives to deal with the psychological effects of cancer. The Day Centre’s sets also as a target the sensitization and training of health professionals that work at oncological departments of public hospitals, while works on the sensitization and awareness of the public.
All services are for free.
DAY CENTER FOR THE FOLLOW-UP CARE FOR PATIENTS WITH PSYCHOSOCIAL PROBLEMS
The Day Center for the follow-up care of people with psychosocial problems who live in the community at the Municipalities of Kallithea, Neas Smyrnis and Tavrou-Moschatou in Attica. The provided services are free of charge and include psychiatric and psychological assessment, prolepsis, diagnosis and therapeutic treatment. The Center develops collaborations with organizations and professionals from the wider health and social care sector in order to respond better to patients’ needs.
