The Hellenic Association for Psychosocial Support, Rehabilitation and Community Care, was founded on 11 April 2005. It is a Civil Non-Profit Company (A.M.K.E.), and its registered office is in Athens, 18 Ippokratous St., Postal Code 10680.
Since the summer of 2006, it has been operating two Residential Care Facilities for 15 persons each with Intellectual Disability and Secondary Mental Disorders in Peristeri (“Odysseas” Residential Care Facility, operating since 30 June 2006) and Ilion, Attica (“Aeneas” Residential Care Facility, operating since 27 July 2006) respectively, while since March 2013 two corresponding Sheltered Apartments for 4 persons each have been operating in the same areas. All these Mental Health Units operate within the framework of the network of Psychosocial Rehabilitation Providers (Private Law Legal Entities) of the 2nd Health Region (DYPe) of Piraeus and the Aegean. The Association is also a member of the Federation of Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Mental Health Providers “ARGO”.
Purpose of the Hellenic Association for Psychosocial Support, Rehabilitation and Community Care is the care for the improvement and promotion of mental health and community care services in Greece, by trained and legally practising professionals in mental-health-related professions, in accordance with the methodology prevailing in Greece, the European Union and internationally that governs the sciences providing them.
More specifically, the field of action of the Hellenic Association for Psychosocial Support, Rehabilitation and Community Care is:
- Social research and research on behaviour, normal and deviant, the dissemination of the results and their use for improving mental health, e.g. research in psychotherapy and psychological assessment, research on social exclusion and vulnerable groups, etc.
- Promotion of individual and social rights (e.g. the right to education, vocational training, rehabilitation and support) of persons facing mental health problems and of their families.
- Promotion of mental health and prevention of mental illness, through the development of organised educational and intervention programmes addressed to both the individual and the community.
- Behavioural assessment using scientific tools.
- The provision, coordination and supervision of care and intervention through the organisation’s structure and in cooperation with “networks” consisting of specialised academic and clinical bodies in Greece and abroad (prevention, diagnosis, treatment, psychosocial rehabilitation/recovery, reintegration).
- The development, staffing and support of structures that promote mental health and community care, for persons who are vulnerable and often socially excluded population groups, such as persons suffering from symptoms of mental illness, the intellectually disabled, etc. That is, ensuring that these social groups receive the best possible care, treatment, recovery or development of the life skills that will help them to live and be included in society as a whole on the best possible terms.
- The design, segmentation and delivery of “open” education programmes relating to awareness-raising and training on issues concerning mental health and social exclusion, of interest to citizens, sufferers and their environment, as well as to mental health professionals (Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Sociologists, Social Workers, Nurses, Nursing Assistants and Caregivers).
- The development of deinstitutionalisation programmes within the aforementioned structures, but also across the whole community.
- The awareness-raising and support of the families and relatives of the aforementioned groups, with the aim of improving their relationships and jointly accepting and addressing the problems they face.
- Information and awareness-raising of the general public on issues and individual/social problems that relate to and accompany psychological problems and the symptoms of mental disorders, through printed and electronic material (e.g. the internet).
- Mobilisation of the community on mental health issues and community care, and the development of volunteer programmes to combat the “stigma” of mental illness and social exclusion.
- The application of new technologies, the research and development of software programmes in order to use them in the field of mental health.
- The creation, use and provision of data and information (e.g. in the form of electronic and printed material) relating to mental health and community care.
- The provision of services related to the above.
Our work: psychosocial rehabilitation and mental health
Psychosocial rehabilitation is at the core of our work and is not limited to housing: it includes therapeutic care, supportive psychotherapy, training in daily living skills and gradual reintegration into the community. In the Residential Care Facilities and Sheltered Apartments that we operate, psychosocial rehabilitation has a clear goal: every beneficiary should live with dignity and the greatest possible autonomy. Mental health is a right, not a privilege. That is why our residential facilities and our other structures operate with respect for the personality and needs of every person.
Alongside housing and care, psychology and psychiatry as sciences are basic tools of our work, but at the same time our philosophy of care is based on the simple principle: “we care as we would at home for our own people, our loved ones, our family. The rules of rehabilitation are often hidden in our everyday life.” The supportive relationship with each beneficiary — a steady therapeutic value based on trust — is what makes rehabilitation a daily developmental goal. Through the supportive relationship, psychological support and cooperation with the family, the person gradually regains autonomy and their place in the community. Here psychology does not remain theory; it becomes daily practice. Psychology and psychotherapy remain steady points of reference at every stage of the rehabilitation journey. With these rules we operate, and through them we try to apply the best possible scientifically evidence-based practices of psychiatric and psychological care.
Hellenic Association for Psychosocial Support, Rehabilitation and Community Care: Management and Legal Representative
The Hellenic Association for Psychosocial Support is managed by its Assembly of Partners . The Legal Representative and Manager of the Association is Mr Theodoros Nikolaidis. The clinical/therapeutic supervision of each structure is exercised by the respective Scientific Director, in accordance with the Internal Operating Regulations of each structure. The Scientific Director of the Residential Care Facilities is the Clinical Psychologist, M.Sc., Konstantinos Karoukanidis-Katakis.
Organisational Chart
The administrative and organisational structure of the Association follows this hierarchy: the Assembly of Partners, the Manager & Legal Representative, the Scientific Directors of each structure, and the Interdisciplinary Team (Psychologists, Psychiatrist, Social Workers, Occupational Therapist, Physiotherapist), alongside the Medical Service, the Nursing Service, the Care Service and the Administrative Service of each structure (Residential Care Facility or Sheltered Apartment).
Staff Specialties
| Psychiatrist | Internist |
| Psychologist | Social Worker |
| Special Educator or Social Scientist | Occupational Therapist |
| Housekeeper | Nurses (TE/PE/DE) |
| Administrative Employee | General Duties Workers |
| Speech Therapists (external collaboration) | Physiotherapists (external collaboration) |
If you are interested in working at the Hellenic Association for Psychosocial Support, Rehabilitation and Community Care, click here to submit a job application.
Registered Office & Structures
| Structure | Address |
|---|---|
| Association Headquarters | 18 Ippokratous St., P.C. 10680, Athens |
| Administration Offices | 23 Thiseos St., P.C. 151 24, Marousi |
| “Odysseas” Residential Care Facility (Peristeri) | 23 Kalamon St., P.C. 12134, Peristeri |
| “Aeneas” Residential Care Facility (Ilion) | 24 Chrysidos St., P.C. 13122, Ilion |
| Peristeri Sheltered Apartment | 38a Pavlou Mela St., P.C. 12131, Peristeri |
| Ilion Sheltered Apartment | 89 Menelaou St., P.C. 13122, Ilion |