Kinonikes Sineteristikes Drastiriotites Efpathon Omadon

Social Cooperative Activities for Vulnerable Groups – ’EDRA’ is a Non-Profit Organisation, operating in the fields of mental health and mental retardation since 2001, aiming at the promotion of mental health, defending the rights of vulnerable groups and raising awareness in matters concerning mental health. It is a member of the Transparency Register of the European Union, the National Register of Organisations of Civil Society of the Private Sector, the Special Register of Voluntary non-governmental organisations and the Register of Cultural Organisations of the Ministry of Culture; also a member of distinguished networks such as the European Network of Active Living for Mental Health, currently serving as President of the Board, the Network of European Art Festivals for Mental Health Enhancement, the European Federation of People with Mental Illness, “ARGO” the Federation of organisations for the Psycho-social Rehabilitation and Mental Health in Greece and the Federation of Voluntary Non-governmental Organisations of Greece. In order to ensure the quality and the efficiency of the provided services, the organisation is employed with more than 120 staff members, who are specialized in their operating field and share the culture and values which stem from its vision. Since its commencement of operation, EDRA has provided services to more than 7000 beneficiaries. The organisation has adopted a holistic approach which has now become the dominant model in active mental health policies in the European Union: - In terms of content, it includes comprehensive systems which focus on prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and social integration (tackling social stigma). - An inter-sectoral approach which is considered necessary, as Arts, Sports, Employment, Advocacy, Patient Rights, Regional Development etc., are meant to contribute in a decisive way.

At an operational level, a holistic approach is produced and provided by the context of synergies among national health systems (central government), Community (local government), the Scientific Community, Private Sector, Civil Society and of course mental health services users and their families. EDRA operates in the following sectors: Mental Health, operating two Units of psycho-social rehabilitation (Boarding Houses) and a supported apartments programme with two shelter houses of semi-autonomous accommodation Mental Retardation, operating the “Nefeli” Supported Living Residence for people with Down syndrome and moderate or severe intellectual disabilities co-occurring with signs of autism..Child and Family, operating six centres for children and adolescents with learning difficulties aged between 3 and 17 years all across Attica region. Vulnerable Social groups, implementing the national programmes “Social Structures against Poverty” & “Housing and Reintegration”. EDRA is very active in EU projects, having coordinated multiple large- scale projects under Erasmus+ and Creative Europe Programmes and also having participated in numerous projects as partner. The priorities of these projects mainly concern:

• The prevention of Mental Illness as well as the therapy and rehabilitation of people suffering from Mental Illness through various means (Sports, Culture, Digital Skills etc.)
• The inclusion of socially excluded and marginalized groups into our societies and their integration into local communities through various means.
• The mitigation of inequalities in education, by providing vulnerable groups the chance to acquire necessary skills and competences to enter the labour market. It has also a vast experience in training as it operates a Lifelong Education Centre, providing training courses to professionals of Mental health, social workers, artists, Educators for Adults, IT professionals, Speech and Occupational Therapists, wannabe social entrepreneurs, etc. Also, it hosts the "Art4More" annual festival about art and mental health aiming to fight the stigma of mental illness.

EDRA supports children and young people with learning difficulties, syndrome, autism, and mental disability. More specifically, EDRA runs the following structures:

• The Psychopedagogical Centers of K.S.D.E.O. "EDRA" serves children aged 3-17 years by providing special services for the rehabilitation of learning difficulties, speech therapy, occupational therapy, special education, individual psychotherapy and child and family counseling. The Centers are staffed by interdisciplinary teams, which consist of mental health professionals: psychologists, special educators, speech therapists, occupational therapists and social workers.
• The Chrysalida Early Intervention Center which aims to serve specific diagnostic groups (autism, cerebral palsy, syndromes, mental retardation) and in a specific age range (0-6 years). Essentially, it tries to prepare the served so that they have the best possible integration in their school units.
• The "Nefeli" Supported Living Shelter whose operation is based on the principles of community psychiatry, deinstitutionalization, semi-autonomous living, psychosocial rehabilitation and social inclusion. It has a capacity of 6 residents (young people - men) who face moderate or severe mental retardation with co-morbidities of autism and Down syndrome.