Seminar about Mental Disorders

Organized by S.O.P.S.I and the Scientific Committee of S.O.P.S.I.
Causes, Symptoms, Treatment
Learn, Ask, Deal

The Pan-Hellenic Association of Families for Mental Health and the Scientific Committee of S.O.P.S.I has organized on December 6, 2008 a scientific gala for families of people with mental health problems concentrating, for the first time, mostly to siblings. The gala took place at Pasteur Institute and many Professors of Psychiatry took part.

This gala gave the chance to the relatives and mainly to the siblings of people with mental health problems to have responsible and scientific information about last developments in anything concerning mental disorders and to find answers to difficult questions as:

• What will happen to sick siblings when parents pass away
• What about inheritance matters
• Way of behavior to the patient - parents
• Dilemma: duty towards the patient – the right to personal life

Professors of Psychiatry and Psychologists gave information in a simple and detailed way about the disease, about ways of dealing with it and also about how to behave towards the patient.

The program of the seminar was as follows:

• Pr. of  Psyc. M. Ikonomou: Consequencesofmentaldisordersinfamily
• Pr. of  Psyc. N. Stefanis: Causes of mental disorders. New data
• Pr. of  Psyc. V. Karidi: The role of employment in psychosocial approach of mentally ill people
• Psyc. D. Kolostoubis: Psychoeducation in family as part of a complete treatment
• Pr. of   Psyc. M. Malliori: European policy on mental disorders
• Psyghol. E. Louki: Enhancement of family: the special role of siblings

The need of support groups has been stressed out which was very well accepted from the audience, (300 Participants) which really seeking for knowledge.

This gala gave many things to an audience which was interested in learning and fight stigma and racism against themselves and the patients.