Ploes E.Psy.Me.

Ploes E.Psy.Me. (Psycho-Social Research Organization) is a Non-Governmental Organization, founded in 1998, by mental health professionals, and different scientific sectors and customized training fields. Now, more than 100 people are employed in all of its projects. A great array of mental health professionals, social workers, occupational and speech therapists, special education professionals, child psychiatrists, psychologists, are under the umbrella of E.Psy.Me. The ongoing projects and services are addressed to citizens affected by autism spectrum disorders, mental and psychiatric disabilities, in urban environment of Piraeus and surrounding suburbs, (region of Attica). E.PSY.ME is committed to tackle social exclusion by enhancing service users' social and mental wellbeing. E.PSY.ME. services are based on the principles of social psychiatry, which consider mental disabilities as a phenomenon of multiple and complicated factors. It is our strong belief that negative current and future consequences can be limited by using constant, appropriate and effective scientific methods of prevention and intervention. The fundamental principles of all our services and action plans derive from this approach. E.PSY.ME. aspires to develop - implement projects, programs and run Day care Centres carefully designed to address with scientific methodological adequacy and effectiveness the specific, multifaceted needs of the targeted population. E.PSY.ME. has already developed self-funded services in the fields of: ● PREVENTION - in collaboration with the Local Self-Administration Organizations, the Parents' and guardians’ Association and other social organizations of the region of Piraeus and suburbs. ● INTERNAL PROFESSIONAL TRAINING - emphasizing on training of our professionals on new techniques and approaches for an effective intervention. ● SOCIAL CARE - by developing Therapeutic Units, Integration Services, Social circles, etc. E.PSY.ME. provides services funded by European Social Fund and National Fund resources, such as: ● Day Centre for treating children with autism spectrum disorders (K.HM.A). [European Social Fund “ΨΥΧΑΡΓΩΣ - PSYHARGOS” forms base funding and National Funds acting as supportive funding (National Ministry of Health and Social Solidarity) up to 2018]. ● Specialized Centre of Professional Training for adult disabled people. Funded by European Social Funds. ● Diagnostics and Therapeutics Units for prevention and psychosocial rehabilitation of children and adult mental disorders (developmental delays, mental retardation, and other disorders. Funded by Insurance Organizations, Grants, Donations, etc) ● Developed actions of intervention and integration, such as the "Schedia" Social Club for people with mental disorders. ● Vocational Training in Mental Health named “Katarti”. offers training courses and seminars in dedicated fields of mental health by certified trainers, both for the general population and for those with special needs. ● Day care centre, for teenagers and adults with autism spectrum disorders funded by Athenian Regional Authority for three years () through European Union Funds. E.PSY.ME recognises the need of creation of new ideas, as one of the most important and viable ways to surpass the economic crisis. As a result, she takes the following actions: ● E.PSY.ME. is a CO-founder of the social enterprise “The garden of hope”, which goal is to integrate people with disabilities into the labour market, mainly in the primary sector through the production of agricultural products and various services in cooperation with external partners. ● Supports the work of social enterprise “Rota”, based in the western suburbs of Piraeus, and aims at the socialization, prevention and treatment of vulnerable social groups. Last but not least, E.PSY.ME. has created a new department, which manages the European projects. We are participating in two projects: ● “Easy cooking” as a partner. ● “Alive and Kicking” as a leader organization. More information about E.Psy.Me. can be found on our site: http://www.epsyme.gr