From: A qualitative exploration of a family self-help mental health program in El Salvador
Achievement | Comments |
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National level advocacy | The program has opened spaces for participation in advocacy, which is really important because there are no other organizations in the country working in the psychosocial area |
We are now established as the non-governmental mental health entity in national forums | |
Advocacy as members of the CONAIPD coalition. Participation [in this governmental and NGO advocacy council] has been a great way to relate to other nonprofits in the country. To be part of a large network increases our impact. It allows us to educate other nonprofits about mental health and shows users and their family members are part of the movement for disability rights tooa | |
We are positioned in the civil society. The Ministry of Health has taken notice of us and invited us to participate in the first revision of the 2008 national law on mental health. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) invited our representative members to participate in international conferences in Panama (2010) and Brazil (2013) | |
Anti-stigma activities and advocacy | Educational and sensitization trainings directed at the sectors of society that work with users and families in the community, such as programs with the national civilian police force and national psychiatric hospital workers about the human rights of persons with mental health problems, the role of the family as partners in treatment, the needs of families in the community, and information about our FESEP program that serves as a referral resource for police, hospital personnel, and public health clinic workers |
National forums that have brought together diverse sectors of society | |
We’ve worked to sensitize society through the media, especially radio. I think our society is more educated about mental health and there is less stigma | |
Needs of users | We’ve identified and promoted needs of users that have not been identified by the government, for example, education and work opportunities |
Thinking big | We are growing. There are more groups in El Salvador now than before |
We need groups all over Central America to help users and families in other countries, to promote advocacy, and to form international networks to strengthen our advocacy |