Associations

The chief aim of the associations that have developed over the years is to defend and promote the rights of people who suffer from mental disorders, and their families. Their role is locating/enhancing therapeutic/rehabilitation resources and engaging in a more direct and productive way with public services. Some associations also collaborate with the MHD/LHA in managing special facilities, therapeutic/rehabilitation activities and programmes (residences, housing, leisure activities, call centres), facilitating mutual understanding and organising self-help and training activities. They play a vital role in the fight against stigma, discrimination and exclusion of people with mental disorders.

Association of Families of Persons Suffering from Mental Disorders

Via Commerciale 29
Tel.: 040 420 601
Fax 040 634 654
e-mail: attimor@tin.it

The Association's aim is to protect the rights of persons suffering from mental disorders by:
- promoting scientific and cultural initiatives on mental illness and mental healthcare strategies;
- verifying the application of laws for persons with mental disorders by monitoring programmes and workstyles, in collaboration with the MHD;
- promoting the training and management of family self-help groups through study groups and scientific encounters, in cooperation with the MHD;
- cooperating with associations that promote solidarity and fight stigma, exclusion, and exclusion.
The Association is active in lobbying institutions to guarantee occupational training and employment. It is involved in the training and reskilling of volunteers, and organises and runs training courses for family members.
The association's activities resulted in the creation of another self-help group " "Noi insieme", which promotes mutual support and exchanges and recreational activities for family members.

"Franco Basaglia" Volunteer Association

Via de Pastrovich 1
Tel.: 040 399 73 40

Established in 1991 to promote and increase volunteer groups providing support initiatives, professional skills, solidarity and other actions in favour of disadvantaged and marginalised groups and persons (handicap, elderly, immigrants, persons with mental disorders etc.). In its fight against stigma and exclusion, the Association seeks to attribute value to diversity, and create forms of aggregation suited to the special needs and interests of young people. It organises art workshops, projects and activities to support health for risk groups, accompaniment and rehabilitation to the daily life, and cultural and training activities for volunteers.

Caritas

Via di Cavana 15
Working days: 9 a.m. - 12 a.m.
Tel.: 040 318 54 81
e-mail: caritas@diocesi.trieste.it

The Caritas is a pastoral organisation of the Trieste Archdioceses and identifies situations for interventions and support. It coordinates the activities of Church-related agencies, associations, movements and groups involved in charitable activities. This "witnessing" utilises the "fact pedagogy" method and promotes "sign works".
The diocesan listening Centre is a tool for those who live in situations of suffering, anger and anguish on the margins of our opulent society to make their voices heard. In addition to local parishes, the Caritas works with community services for more effective responses and seeks to raise the self esteem and image of people in difficulty. Through the "Buon Pastore" association, and in collaboration with the MHD, over the last ten years the Trieste Caritas has been organised training courses for volunteers, together with residential and recreational interventions and activities.

Citizens and Family Members Against Substance Addiction

P.le Canestrini 9 (at Ser. T)
Tel.: 040 551 22 - 040 399 73 24

The Association was established to promote, support and publicise the fight against addiction and the exclusion of addicted persons: Specifically, it:
- supports and promotes harm reduction and prevention initiatives;
- gives assistance and support (including economic and legal aid) to families of addicted persons;
- promotes initiatives for the social reintegration and employment of former addicts;
- provides consultancy to therapeutic communities;
- organises self-help groups;
- organises training courses and study-days for members and the general public.

Club Zyp

Via delle Beccherie 14/b
Tel.: 040 365 687
Fax 040 347 36 76
e-mail: clubzyp@virgilio.it
Hours: Monday to Saturday, 14:00 - 20:00

A self-help/volunteer group established in 1993. Active in the area of mental health, especially for young people, its main aim is to create informal support mutual-help networks and occasions for socialisation. The club is open to all during afternoons, with meetings, cultrual events and artistic activities (painting, music, theatre, writing, video, Shiatsu, poetry workshops) as well as sponsoring leisure activities (parties, excursions, dinners).
Special attention is given to self-help activities, through the exchange of experiences, mutual support and the development of a culture of solidarity. Training courses and study days are organised in order to discuss mental suffering and recovery, stigma and social exclusions. Club Zyp also seeks to raise awareness in institutions and the general public on these and related issues through information and networks.
Club Zyp is run by a Board of Directors of 9 members, who are elected and delegated to carry out the resolutions voted during meetings. Members must renew their membership annually. Club Zyp is accredited with the MHD, which collaborates on many of its initiatives.

"Goffredo de Banfield" Association

Via delle Zudecche 1
Tel.: 040 362 766 - 040 761 443
Fax 040 774 938
e-mail: info@debanfield.it
http://www.debanfield.it
associated to "Alzheimer Italia"

Active in the social/healthcare issues of the elderly. Specifically, it:
- activates integrated home care (nursing, rehabilitation, social) for cancer and Alzheimer's patients, and non-self-sufficient elderly persons in the Districts of Barriera Vecchia and Barriera Nuova;
- organises loans;
- provide consultancy to families of Alzheimer's patients and promotes self-help groups;
- runs a documentation centre, and organises study seminars and meetings for volunteers, social-healthcare operators and the general public;
- promotes cultural/sports activities to raise awareness on issues concerning the elderly.

"Fuoric'entro" Sports Association

Via delle Beccherie 14/b
Tel.: 040 365 687
Fax 040 347 36 76
e-mail: polisportiva@hotmail.com

Established in 1998 in order to consolidate various sports initiatives and activities run by the MHD and other agencies and promote sports participation for persons with mental disorders. The Association promotes a healthy competitive spirit, physical exercise and the solidarity and comparison of experiences that is intrinsic to team sports. Experience indicates that participation in team sports reduces recovery time, restores abilities and skills and helps young people to regain the confidence and empowerment necessary for seeking employment and/or resuming their studies.
The main sports are soccer, volleyball and basketball, but trekking and swimming are also available. There are weekly training sessions and matches with other local amateur teams. Each year, the Association participates in a tournament with similar sports groups from other areas of Italy, and also hosts the annual "Marco Cavallo" soccer tournament. Currently, the Association involves about 60 members who practise sports in order to improve the quality of their daily lives.

Friendly Physician Group

Via Weiss 5
Tel.: 040 363 566

An Association for primary substance abuse prevention, especially among adolescents. The Association sponsors encounters between physicians and students in schools to present basic health information and discuss needs and problems. The Association also collaborates with the Local Healthcare Agency (including smoking prevention among young people) and participates in research projects with the Mario Negri Institute.

"Luna e l'altra" Cultural Association

Androna degli Orti 4/b
(at the Advisory Bureau - District 2)
Tel.: 040 632 284
Fax 040 368 840
e-mail: lunaelaltra@iol.it

"Luna e l'altra" is a women's cultural association established in 1990. Its main aims are:
- reinforcing and giving value to female identity;
- encouraging women's expressive forms;
- assisting and supporting the most vulnerable women and groups of women in their daily lives and social contexts.
Over the years, the Association has developed cultural and training initiatives aimed at fighting exclusion and facilitating inclusion for women in difficulty. Experience has shown that the main obstacles for such women are a lack of resources, insufficient space for developing and expressing their own identities and situations where the self-realisation and appropriation of their own bodies is denied. Interventions therefore aim at reinforcing a sense of uniqueness and wholeness, identification of women with their own bodies and the possibility of expressing suffering and fostering the potential for reacting to and recovering from mental suffering.
"Luna e l'altra" organises meetings, seminars, training courses, theoretical/practical workshops, social activities, special events and natural/body therapies. It is accredited with the Local Healthcare Agency and collaborates with various MHD projects. Annual membership is required to participate in most activities.

San Martino al Campo Community

Via Gregorutti 2
Tel.: 040 774 186 - 040 773 181
Fax 040 775 497
e-mail: smartinocampo@tcd.it

The "Comunità di San Martino al Campo" is an Onlus (non-profit, socially useful) organisation active in Trieste since 1970. It provides hospitality to young people with various difficulties: alcoholism, mental disorders, substance dependency. Projects are personalised and aim at creating a family-like context for listening and sharing. The first contact with the Community takes place in their offices in Via Gregorutti, with a subsequent referrral to the most appropriate service. The following services are currently active:

• "San Giusto Hospitality House": in collaboration with the MHD, it provides hospitality for young people referred by the MHCs;
• "Villa Stella Mattutina Hospitality House": in collaboration with the City of Trieste social services it provides hospitality for young people with housing/socialisation problems;
• "La Madre Hospitality House": in collaboration with the Caritas and the City of Trieste it provides hospitality for emergency housing situations (maximum stay 6 months);
• "Via Brandesia Hospitality House": in collaboration with the MHD provides hospitality for young persons with mental disorders.

The Community has also established two social Coops and a study centre:

• "Germano Coop": a Type B coop established in 1983 to provide occupational training/employment for disadvantaged young people;
• "Strade nuove": a Type A coop established in 1994 to train operators for work in hospitality houses and other contexts;
• "Paolo Fonda Study Centre": for research on various forms of social exclusion and distress, it collaborates in planning/organising programmes with the MHD and Dependency and also organises public awareness initiatives.

Patients' Rights

Via Battisti 20
Tel. & Fax 040 362 427
Opening time: Tuesdays & Fridays 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Provides information, consultancy and legal aid to all citizens who are victims of malpractice or negligence on the part of the public healthcare services. In collaboration with the Local Healthcare Agency, various citizens groups, judicial agencies and trade unions it monitors public healthcare services and facilities, carries out advocacy and organises conferences and public debates in order to inform the public with respect to their healthcare rights.