ICHCI 1

International Course on Public Health

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ICHCI 2

International Course on Health and Wellbeing

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ICHCI 3

Interdisciplinary Programme on Poverty and Social Exclusion

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ICHCI 4

Community based mental health: A new intensive programme, approved by the EU for 2011-2012

For many years, people with mental disorders have been removed from their communities and kept in psychiatric hospitals or institutions. There is a wealth of evidence from around the world that these admissions to institutes lead to further social exclusion ant stigmatization of patients, are often associated with human rights abuses, and can lead to further deterioration in mental health.

In response to pressures to develop new patient oriented models of care, some countries in Europe have begun to develop community based mental health services. These services are both more clinically effective and more cost-effective. They are near to the places where people live and work and therefore improve the accessibility of services. Furthermore, people who receive such services indicate their preference for community over hospital-based care.

Community mental health care, although not yet fully implemented in many regions and countries, provides a full range of effective mental health care to a defined population, and is dedicated to treating and helping people with mental disorders, in proportion to their suffering or distress, in collaboration with other local agencies.

Regardless the level of the services, a shift towards community based mental health is inevitable as a result of the Mental Health Declaration of Europe, ratified by almost all European countries. Eventually, this shift has a profound impact on the attitude and role of the various professionals active in mental health care.

The overall aim if the IP is to contribute to better quality of care by empowering students and staff with regard to knowledge, competences and skills in mental health.