Activities

Activity 1: Conduct of researches

Primary objective:

The activity aims to explore in depth the topic of the socially rooted prejudices in regard to the mentally ill people, and to shed light on the problems they experience in the process of integration; to outline the tools, necessary to conduct an early prevention of stigma; to create a solid base for further development and implementation of campaigns for combating discrimination in Bulgaria.

Activity narrative:

Activity 1.1. National representative sociologic study of social adjustments regarding the people with mental disorders. By conducting a research, we strive to sort out the big picture of the social mood and adjustments, which aim is to select the best practices and measures for prevention and conduct of campaigns for social change and inclusion of people with mental health issues.

Activity 1.2 Survey among 13-16- year- old students at schools. The inquiry is entirely directed towards the extraction of data from the students about their beliefs and stereotypes as well as improvement of their knowledge in the symptomatology and the types of mental disorders; diminishing the prejudices; improvement of the knowledge base for the means of seeking medical aid in terms of the mental health.

Activity 1.3 Research examination of mentally ill majors. The aim of the examination is to sum up the perceptions and experiences of the mentally ill people in regard to the difficulties they face in social and vocational aspects and everyday life.

Activity 2: Development of instruments for implementation of a National campaign

Activity objective:

To be carried out separate mechanisms, models, guidelines and innovative tools in order to hold an effective National information campaign, addressed towards breaking down discrimination against the mentally ill people and their unequal position by raising public awareness in Bulgaria.

Brief description of the activity:

Activity 2.1 Instrument for relatives and friends of the people with mental disorder. The instrument will contain main subjects that stand before every individual with mental health problems- employees, taking care of the patient; family and friends. Includes the themes of troubles, myths, prejudices, Guidelines for first aid in crisis, recurrences; Recommended actions in case of extraordinary behavior of the mentally ill relative, suicide risks and other ways in which the patient can be treated.

Activity 2.2 Instruments for Media. Development of a Manual for publishing and media releases for journalists, producers and screenwriters, reflecting topics and personal stories, connected with mental health and mentally ill people. The instrument will consist of recommendations on the use of the language referred to the psychical health; ethic use of pictures in the psychical health plot; cases- how to address and treat mental health issues; advises on how to set up intriguing plots that could assist the process of changing the social attitudes, prejudice and discriminative practices.

Activity 2.3 Establishing a network and instruments for groups, organizations and all the interested parties. Development of recommendations, approaches, methodologies to create and maintain the network of interested parties in order to combat stigmas in reference to the people with mental health problems. How to set up a successfully working and sustainable network? How to attract members? What type of functions and initiatives should be undertaken in order to change public adjustments, to protect human rights and to support people with mental health disorder? This network will include NGOs, representatives of public institutions, universities, politicians, employers, media and relatives of the mentally ill people.

Activity 2.4 Instruments for events and campaigns. The instrument will strengthen us in the process of planning and conduct of an event that has the capacity to change the way, in which society thinks of and treats people with mental health problems. A resource to carry out campaigns in search of increasing the awareness and comprehension of the problems, connected with mental health and its reflection on society will be created. It will imply guidelines for formulating messages and developing informational materials, social advertisements, setting up a media plan and etc. Mechanisms for research and evaluation of the results from the conducted campaign for impact assessment will be included.

Activity 2.5 Instrument to attract youth and volunteers. Involving young people as volunteers in the anti-stigma campaigns in schools, youth circle, universities and etc. Tools and mechanisms to provoke young people in deliberating the public health issues; to participate in discussions and presentations held among their coevals and colleagues; blogs, social networks; to maintain their own video channels; Knowledge on how to estimate and distinguish the mental health cases.

Activity 2.6 Instrument to attract employers. Review and examination of the New Norwegian National Strategic Plan on mental health and employment which aim is to prevent mentally ill people of their eviction from employment and to break down the barriers which hinder the employers from hiring them. Developing a successfully working plan in Bulgaria in which employers take social responsibility. Methods for stimulating employers and measures directed towards anti-stigma activities in work places; Development of means for tolerant behavior on the employees’ part in the organization in order to avoid having negative effect on the mentally ill people; Educational materials for both employers and employees in national, municipal or private organizations.

Activity 2.7 Approaches for attitudes change in the minority and Romani communities. Instruments for implementation of campaigns and formulating effective messages, conduct of meetings, provision of support to mentally ill people from the Romani and refugee communities in Bulgaria, bearing their own cultural peculiarities and specifics, connected with stigma and barriers in terms of their health treatment process.

Activity 3: Resource preparation for the conduct of National campaign

Activity objective:

To ensure the resources for the conduct of a comprehensive National campaign in Bulgaria; to provide for the sustainable development of the campaign by setting up a Program for anticipatory prevention, Manuals and Handbooks to be available after the end of the campaign.

Activity description:

Activity 3.1. Designing two social media clips (in video and audio format)

Activity 3.2 Development of a Program for anticipatory prevention, aiming at improving the mental health culture and awareness and conducting an early prevention. The program is set for juveniles aged 13-15 and is meant to be carried out in Bulgarian schools- as a pillar for its implementation will be used the data from the conducted school surveys and various Norwegian practices. Two primary objectives: a) cutting off the negative attitude, displayed by adolescents against mentally ill people; b) improving their knowledge about the means for how and when they can seek specialized help if a problem arises and how to provide help to a classmate or a friend.

Activity 3.3 Development of materials for the campaign. There will be developed various communication materials to influence the negative adjustments toward mentally disordered people.

Activity 3.4 Creation of Internet-based resources, aiming at maximum outreach.

Activity 3.5 Establishing a Manifest for mental health improvement.

Activity 4: Conduct of a National campaign

Primary objective:

The activity’s aim is to be carried out a campaign for altering social opinion and attitude, early prevention, social inclusion and equal treatment of Bulgarians, suffering from mental disorders.

Activity description:

Activity 4.1 Kick-off campaign.

Activity 4.2 Social ads and broadcast of messages in various communication channels.

Activity 4.3 Dissemination of printing materials.

Activity 4.4 Conduct of trainings for coaches and a program for early prevention.

Activity 4.5 Seminar meetings with employers, people with mental disorders, their relatives and other interested parties. Association SPOC has carried out seminar meetings with employers, mentally ill people, their relatives and various interested parties in the city of Veliko Turnovo and city of Shumen. The aim of the seminar meetings was to achieve a change in the attitude towards the mentally ill people. All the seminars are part of the National campaign for altering people’s adjustments toward the people suffering from mental illness and facilitating the de-stigmatization process. The conducted meetings helped to improve the connection between all interested parties and thus, to positively influence the process of integration and acceptance of the mentally ill in society.

Activity 5: Conference

Activity objectives:

To present best Norwegian practices in regard to the mental health issues and combat against social stigma; to discuss the role of support, provided by family, relatives and coevals; the importance of the equal access to employment and social inclusion of people with mental illnesses. To underscore the role of FM EEA for the realization of the project aims.

Activity 6: Information and publicity

Activity objectives:

To underscore the role of FM EEA for the realization of the project aims.

Description of the activity:

Ensuring the publicity of the project and visualize with the mandatory requisites to timely and duly fulfill the beneficiary’s commitments under the contract for gratuitous financial aid. The planned activities will guarantee transparency and contribute to the benefits multiplication. The activity will be carried out in accordance with the set-up Publicity plan, in full accord with the Design and Communication Manual and Annex 4 of the Regiment. All materials, related to the information and publicity obligations within the framework of the project, will be developed in line with the requirements for the visualization and publicity policy of the Program.

Activity 7: Project management

Objective of the activity:

Within Activity 7, activities management and implementation planning is being carried out. A conduct of work meetings with the management team for managing and coordinating the implementation of the main project activities; a detailed activity execution schedule; additional deliberation with the project partner; a schedule for reporting the advancement of the project and the results achieved; a preliminary plan for recruitment and contracting with specialists, incl. work meetings. A creation of an internal results evaluation system, provision of monitoring measures preparation of interim and final narrative and technical reports in compliance with the requirements set.

The management team:

Albena Drobachka- manager

The project manager, Albena Drobachka, is a chairperson of the Board of Directors of SPOC. She has over 10 years of experience in the fields of project management with European and outside-European funding, an extensive management experience, including a string of extremely successful projects with educational nuance and social effect.

She has also developed and implemented activities, initiatives and events, related to protection of children’s rights (including children form minority groups and those seeking or received international custody), combatting against children’s exposure of violence, including racial-based violence, children’s safety and security, preventive work with families at risk and families with problematic children, children’s road safety and etc. She has given lectures during a qualification course for teachers in the field of violence and aggression amongst children and adolescents.

Thanks to her extensive experience, she possesses skills and knowledge to influence various target groups that supplements her management qualities.

Dr. Yuri Katsarov- co-ordinator

Yuri Katsarov- Doctor in psychology at Sofia University „St. Kliment Ohridski“, a clinical psychologist, a qualified family consultant, continuing and intensive professional practice, a long-term lecturer at Sofia University. He has a significant experience in the initiation and coordination of various projects, related to the provision of mental health aid to children, adolescence and adults. Dr. Katsarov possesses experience in the field of addiction issues.

Kostadin Dragnev- accountant

Kostadin Dragnev has a rich experience in the accounting field. He has been involved as an accountant in a series of projects, implemented by Association SPOC. He has worked with many non-governmental organizations in the field of project inclusion and accounting matters.

Teodor Tsvetkov- Co-ordinator for the partner YRCA (Youth for responsible civil activity)

Teodor Tsvetkov is a chairman of Youth for responsible civil activity (YRCA) with experience in the field of connecting young people for initiating of socially important activities. Possesses experience in coordinating youth activities and projects, funded by European and national donors. He has participated as an expert in projects, connected with the activity of altering negative adjustments toward minorities, tolerant attitude toward vulnerable groups, volunteer activities and etc.

Bilyana Kamburova- Administrative associate

Bilyana Kamburova is a last-year graduate of European management at New Bulgarian University. She has received B.A. in Sociology and Civil and Corporate Security at New Bulgarian University. She possesses experience in the field of the administrative coordination in SPOC- management of incoming and outgoing correspondence, facilitation of the project team’s activity and leading the communication with the project partners.

Diana Slavcheva- Auction expert

Diana Slavcheva is a Master of Law at Sofia University in the following fields: International Law and international relations and European Law. She has a 13-year experience as a jurist and has worked with SPOC since the association’s establishment. She is a member of the Sofia Bar Association with experience in the provision of legal consultations and preparation of contracts; Procedural representation in front of the national judicial bodies on administrative, civil lawsuits, preparation of standpoints, legal aid, preparation of public offers documentation under the National legislation; human rights protection; children’s protection; children at risk; victims of domestic violence; adoption.

Contacts:

Phones: + 359/ 876772002

+ 359/ 2 9319399

+ 359/ 876772018

Email: office@spoc-s.com