2004 S.O.P.S.I. Activities

• After the measures we took, Law number 3232 concerning the pension plan was completed and the full amount of the pension will be paid to the psychiatric patients after the death of a parent.
• S.O.P.S.I. participated in the Campaign against the Stigma as part of the Greek Program Against the Stigma of Schizophrenia of EPIPSY...
• S.O.P.S.I. participated in a day conference organized by the Municipality of Heraklion in cooperation with the Municipality of Kifissia titled : "Secondary and Supportive Services for the Incorporation of Sensitive Groups in Society" on February 18.
• S.O.P.S.I. participated in a scientific day conference titled: "People with psychosocial problems. Role, reasons, organization" which took place in the Intellectual Center of the Municipality of Athens under the auspices of PEPSAEE on April 19.
• S.O.P.S.I. participated in the Scientific 2-Day Conference titled "Biological and psychosocial approach in psychiatric rehabilitation: Experience and prospects" which took place in EPIPSY on 22-23 May.
• S.O.P.S.I. participated in the screening of John Cadigan's film "People say I'm crazy" during the 10th International Film Festival of Athens on September 27 in ATTIKON theatre, after which a member of S.O.P.S.I. gave a speech.
• Presentation of S.O.P.S.I.'s work in Patras during an event organized by S.O.P.S.I. of Patras. This event was highly successful.
• Participation in the conferences of GAMIAN and EUFAMI in Talin of Esthonia and Merano of Italy, where we presented two Posters on the Boarding House and the Coffee Shop.
• In Madrid we expressed our views concerning issues of interest while we also participated in the Paneuropean fight against the Stigma and discrimination.
• Participation of one member of the Managing Committee in the EUFAMI Committee for the Internet site where the activities of 26 countries are being presented.
• Presentation of the S.O.P.S.I. activities in Greek and English in the EUFAMI site. We are the only country out of 26 countries with such a site.
• Election of S.O.P.S.I.'s president in the Managing Committee of World Cooperation of Advisory Networks for Psychiatric Disturbances. 75 organizations from 32 countries participate.
• S.O.P.S.I. participated and presented its work in the presentation of a Manual titled "Discover the Way Forward" which took place at King George Hotel with mrs. Marina Economou-Laliotis as speaker. This Manual will be distributed free of charge to the S.O.P.S.I. members.
• S.O.P.S.I. participated in the meeting of EUFAMI representatives in Brussels. Following a proposal by S.O.P.S.I., it was decided that EUFAMI will ask the United Nations Council to financially support every psychiatric patient in order for him or her to live in dignity, irrespective of their age, disease onset or the financial situation of their parents. Simply by having the medical opinion of a State Hospital physician, according to which the patient suffers of a serious psychiatric disease, such as schizophrenia, the patient will be able to receive the financial support from the Council.

VISITS

• We paid a visit to the Mayor of Vyronas Mr. Nikos Hardalias who supports our work.
• We met with ex Undersecretary of Employment and Social Security Mr. Robert Spyropoulos for the completion of Law number 3232 regarding the pension plan. We continue to work on the improvement of this law.

S.O.P.S.I. REQUESTS to the Ministry

• Creation of a second boarding house.
• Creation of two protected appartments.
• Letting of a 60 sq.met. space for the Day Center of S.O.P.S.I. beneath the Boarding House.

These requests have been forwarded to the Minister's office for approval.

EVENTS

• The event we organized in ASTRA of the Municipality of Vyronas on June 30 was very successful. Many psychiatric health professionals, local administrators, members and friends of our Association showed up to support this event.
• July 19, G. Dalaras and Glykeria concert in Theatro Vrahon of the Municipality of Vyronas. The Mayor of Vyronas Mr. Nikos Hardalias, Associate Professor of Psychiatry Mrs. Marina Economou-Laliotis, Mr. Petros Efthymiou ex Minister of Education and many other politicians and representatives of social services attended the concert.

BENEFITS FOR OUR MEMBERS

• Support groups and psychiatric education groups meet in our center with the assistance of psychiatric health professionals.
• In S.O.P.S.I.'s center, on 3, Dylou street, the coffee shop "Warm Nest" opens every Thursday for patient members to listen to music, play board games, dance and learn greek and foreign dances. The patients themselves are responsible for organizing this event under the guidance of volunteers and psychiatric health professionals.
• S.O.P.S.I. participates in social tourism. Relatives of our members escorted by a social worker and 2 nurses of the Boarding House spent 7 days in Arkitsa of Fthiotida state.
• The children of our Association members who wished to do so participated in the POSGAMEA camp in Keratea, as well as in the private GOLD BEACH camp in Loutsa.
• Blood donation. On the Day of Thought, on February 28, 2004, the Lycabettus boy scouts donated blood for our Association in EVANGELISMOS Hospital, where S.O.P.S.I. has opened up a blood bank.
• Every first Thursday of the month, we offer free dental check-ups and mouth hygiene instructions for our members' children (by dentist mrs. Eleni Saltapida-Leka) in our center.