The prime task of the Association is to develop and execute the programs of psychosocial rehabilitation of people with mental health problems, which are carried out in ŠENT's centres for mental health in a community (CDZS), present in almost all Slovenian regions.
The programme of psychosocial rehabilitation consists of two subprogrammes
The subprogramme Day centres and the subprogramme Living communities.
Subprogramme Day centres
The subprogramme Day centre is intended for people with mental health problems and those in the momentary emotional distress, their relatives and friends, volunteers, and all others who are interested in the field of mental health and want to acquire more information regarding this topic.
The program is carried out in the form of group and individual activities, the common goal of which is the psychosocial rehabilitation and help with the quickest possible integration back into the every-day life.
Activities in individual day centres are adapted to the needs of its users with the help of professional workers. The methods of group work (workshops) and work with the community are implemented. Thus we offer:
• psychosocial rehabilitation workshops (social skills training, interactional exercises etc.),
• self-help groups for relatives and users,
• educational workshops (foreign languages, computer courses, cooking workshops etc.),
• creative workshops (music workshop, handwork, working with clay, painting workshop etc.),
• free-time workshops (board games, exercising etc.),
• trips, camps, holidays, hikes,
• lectures and round
• visits to exhibitions, events, and shows and many other activities.
Our experts offer users also individual counselling that involves: counselling, informative and relief discussions, and individual planning.
The participation in the subprogramme is voluntary and free of charge.
Subprogramme Residential groups
Residential groups are intended for people over 18 years old who due to occasional or long-lasting distress or problems in mental health need professional help and support for independent living in a community because they lack appropriate living environment and social network.
Through the individual plan for independent living, professional help of our employees, various rehabilitation programmes and other services of social and health care, and active participation of the resident in the programme of residential groups we try to achieve the greatest possible independence of an individual with the goal of independent living.
Employment is an important part of rehabilitation for people with mental health problems and affects the quality of life of all people. ŠENT offers the possibility of integration into various programmes of active employment policy (on-the-job training, public work) and programmes of social inclusion. The goals of these programmes are: integration into the working and social environment, preservation and development of new skills, and social and economic independence.
For the execution of programmes in the fields of employment rehabilitation, work training, and employment of people with mental health problems ŠENT founded the social enterprise Dobrovita plus d.o.o., employment centres (Dlan, Karso, and Šentplavž), ŠENTPRIMA – Institute for employment rehabilitation execution and supported employment, and the institute Premiki – Institute for counselling, promotion, and development of accessible tourism Ljubljana. The film about ŠENT and our Employment programes online.
Programme of social inclusion is a social programme intended to support and preserve the working abilities of the disabled. This programme presents a supplementation of the organised care of social welfare for the elimination of psychological and social distress of the disabled, helps them lift and maintain their motivation, teaches them new ways of social participation, and helps them lift their self-confidence.
This programme can be entered by any disabled person who has been issued, on the basis of Article 34 of the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment of Persons with Disabilities Act, a decision about unemployability by the Employment service.
The advocacy programme is intended to protect the rights of people with mental health problems and their relatives. We offer free counselling and help with solving every-day problems inferring from interpersonal relations.
Within our Association we have two advisory bodies which promote self-advocacy and aid with care for quality living of users in the psychiatric institutions and outside of them. These are Relatives Forum Slovenia and Counsel of Users.
Their task is to raise public awareness and call the attention of the government and its institutions to the problems in healthcare, education, and legislation in the field of mental health.
DESTIGMATIZATION AND INFORMING THE PUBLIC PROGRAMMES AND PUBLISHING SERVICES
Educational programmes transfer useful knowledge about the community care for people with mental health problems and other skills from the field of social welfare and healthcare to specific target groups: users, their relatives, and expert workers.
Yearly we organise experts meetings, consultations, round tables, and conferences with current contents from the field of mental health.
We publish the bulletin ŠENT, which is published six times a year and unites articles of external associates, experts from ŠENT, and users.
Our publishing activities comprise also of publishing expert publications and works by our users.
When Slovenia entered the EU we became part of a larger system which offers new opportunities for the development of ŠENT's programmes. Together with similar organisations in Slovenia and abroad we develop projects and programmes within EU programmes and funds and also other sources, which supplement our activities. As a successful association we were and still are a leading organisation of numerous local and international projects. As a partner organisation we have participated in a large number of local and international projects.
► The film about ŠENT and presentation of ŠENT's Social Entrepreneurship
► Volunteer work measurement guide (by ILO Department of Statistics)