Rehabilitation Basket: Counseling and Guidance Centers for People with Mental Health Challenges

Supporting a family member who is coping with mental challenges is a complex journey, full of upheavals and emotions, ups and downs. Family members often feel worry, frustration, and helplessness and need a lot of strength and patience. Many times, they do not know how to deal with the many feelings and challenges that arise along the way, or how to help or support in the right way. The counseling and guidance centers have been designed to provide a safe space of both emotional and practical assistance for families of those coping with mental challenges. The centers are operated by healthcare professionals, alongside family members of people with mental conditions, who have lived experience and can serve as a model for other families and assist in accompanying, advocating for, and providing personal support.

Information, guidance, and lectures: The centers provide comprehensive, current information about various mental illnesses, including symptoms, therapy options, medications, and coping strategies. The centers offer a wealth of information, empowering family members who take an active part in their loved ones’ recovery process. The centers offer lectures and workshops led by field experts, along with written resources such as pamphlets and books. The guidance includes information about patients and family rights within the health system. Additionally, the centers offer seminars for expanding the knowledge of family members, including professionals on mental health topics. These seminars include workshops on crisis management, family communication, and new methods to improve the quality of life for both individuals with mental health conditions and their families.

Support and guidance: The family centers offer guidance to family members experiencing secondary trauma related to caring for their loved ones. They help integrate individuals with mental health conditions and their families into the community and promote social inclusion. The centers facilitate early problem identification, enabling prompt intervention and preventing deterioration. The centers teach families essential skills for coping with crisis situations, stress management, and effective communication.

Coping with a social stigma: Stigma is a quiet but painful enemy. The centers help reduce stigma around mental health conditions by creating an open and supportive environment. They help families cope with social stigma through fostering self-acceptance and deeper understanding of their situation. Instead of hiding, families learn to speak openly and proudly about their experiences with mental illness. At the centers, families connect with other families facing similar challenges, forming invaluable connections of shared experiences and understanding.
The centers normalize conversations about mental health by creating open spaces for discussion. Additionally, the centers also organize community events to promote awareness, share success stories, and encourage an open dialogue. This helps families feel less isolated and better equipped to cope with social prejudice.

Individual meetings: These are personal meetings with mental health professionals. The meetings provide tools for better communication with the individual with a mental condition and strategies for more balanced management of family crises.

Support groups: Support groups offer families a chance to share their experiences with other families in similar situations and to receive some advice.
The family centers organize support groups with the guidance of mental healthcare professionals. These groups offer a platform to share experiences with other families in similar situations and share their challenges and solutions to help develop new coping skills. Participation in support groups can reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation, reminding participants they are not alone in this journey. Sharing experiences and learning from one another help create a social support net. It is worth noting that these centers operate a range of support groups for partners, parents, siblings, and children of individuals with mental health conditions.

Workshops and training sessions: These workshops provide tools for coping with mental health challenges within the family. They also teach how to develop management skills, strategies for improving family connections, and effective communication techniques. This support promotes the rehabilitation process for the family member.

Legal guidance and realizing rights: The centers provide legal guidance to help families understand both their rights and those of their loved ones with mental health challenges. They assist in realizing rights through the relevant authorities, including the National Insurance Institute, community treatment providers, and rehabilitation providers. If necessary, these centers also guide families through bureaucratic processes to ensure they receive all entitled benefits and support.

Vacations for family members: The centers offer specialized vacations for families of individuals coping with mental health conditions, allowing you to take a break from daily challenges, rest and recharge, enabling you to continue and provide better support for your loved ones.

Funding of services in family counseling and guidance centers

Family services are provided free of charge as part of the rehabilitation basket. This allows family members of individuals with mental health challenges to receive help and support without a heavy financial burden. No rehabilitation basket or National Insurance recognition is required to receive service at the center.