Richmond Foundation introducing the Home Support Service

The Richmond Foundation is introducing the Home Support Service, an innovative programme in community mental health.

It will also be holding an open day at Villa Chelsea, in Birkirkara, its rehabilitation facility, on October 6.

The Richmond Foundation was launched in 1993 on the initiative of the Richmond Fellowship of Malta International and the Maltese government, to provide services in community-based programmes for persons with mental health problems.

Villa Chelsea offers day and residential programmes aimed at helping individuals regain the necessary skills which will enable them to live as independent a life in the community as possible.

After 10 years of activity, Richmond Foundation introduced a new corporate image.

"The distinctive logo adds colour to our operations and character to our ethos. Our services keep the person with mental health problems, as the main focus. This is reflected in the logo, showing a person's profile against a dark background.

"This is very similar to the experience of persons suffering mental illness: having to struggle in order to challenge the darkness of mental illness, and emerge back into the light.

"The logo also portrays the person as being different from the environment. This is also similar to the experience of these people, who often experience the stigma and fear which exists within society. This stigma is especially reflected in the lack of acceptance when they come to seek employment and accommodation," the foundation said.

The new Home Support Service aims to provide persons with mental health difficulties the opportunity to gain and maintain autonomy and to develop their potential within the community.

The service will be open to persons who are still living in the community but who are experiencing difficulties due to lack of skills.

"The additional support within their home environment, would help them to remain as independent as possible. The service also aims to prevent relapses or admissions back to the psychiatric hospital, whenever this is possible."

Four Home Support Workers, who are all professionals, have recently been employed in order to provide this service.

The Home Support Service is based at Richmond Foundation head office and operates from Monday to Friday between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m.

In 2001, Villa Chelsea offered its day and residential service to 39 individuals; the Supported Housing Scheme housed 21 persons with mental health problems; and the Supported Employment Programme found part-time employment for 12 individuals.

The Foundation's audited accounts may be viewed at the head office.

The foundation may be contacted on tel. 2148 2336, 2122 4580, 2144 0324 or email richmond@vol.net.mt