Behar, Mostar Leaders of organisation: Sulejman Zilic, association president Becir Šabanadovic, association secretary Fadil Šiširak, association manager Address: Južni logor bb Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina Telefon: +387 ( 0 ) 36 576 911 loc. 116 +387 ( 0 ) 36 577 090 Fax: +387 ( 0 ) 36 576 915 +387 ( 0 ) 36 577 090 Email: behar@cob.net.ba Website: www.cmhr-bosnia.org/en/behar.htm

Artwork at Behar

Behar Association for Mutual Support in Mental Distress is a non-governmental organisation formed in 2000 in Mostar, Herzegovina. Behar has over 150 active members - users of Community Mental Health Centres in Mostar, 105 users with home therapy and 20 patients of the Psychiatry Department - part of the Dr. S. Mujic Regional Medical Centre in Mostar. The organisation brings together users of all professions, of different ethnicity, as well as users with different kinds of mental distress.

Behar's attention is focussed on improving mutual support, finding alternative ways of surviving crises, participation in policy-making, encouraging the work of various medical and social organisations and striving to improve the quality of life of people with mental health problems.

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Fenix President: Mr Vahid Djulovic Address: Ul. Patriotske Lige br.6 (kapija) Tuzla 75000 Bosnia-Herzegovina Tel.: +387 35 257 125 Fax: +387 35 257 125 Email: tk.fenix@bih.net.ba

Fenix's Adnan Sivic with some of his artwork

Vahid Djulovic is from Tuzla in Bosnia-Herzegovina and works at Fenix, a mental health non-governmental organisation which is an encouraging example of how, with a little help, huge strides can be made.

"After my experiences in the Bosnian war I fell ill and went into a psychiatric clinic. The stigma I felt made me feel like an outcast of society. As my self-confidence gradually returned, a number of us got together to try and improve our situation. Through Hamlet Trust we heard about other user-led projects, and we soon formed our own organisation, Fenix. At first we encountered incomprehension and suspicion from the local community, but gradually this changed. Through Hamlet Network workshops our organisation has become stronger, as we exchange ideas and experiences with others, and we are now better-equipped to fight for our rights. Troubles will always appear but we all have the potential for a better future, no matter who we are."

Fenix is typical of the kind of growth and inspiration that new groups find across the region when they become involved in the Hamlet Trust Network. From its foundation in 2000, Fenix has grown rapidly with support from Hamlet and it now lists the following amongst its many achievements:

• Conducted comprehensive public research on attitudes to mental health.
• Established a network among users in Tuzla Canton, to support and guide people experiencing crisis and to raise awareness of their needs amongst the general public.
• Hosted Hamlet Trust’s Local Policy Forum, which has helped to change legislation and champion the rights of people with mental health problems.
• Provides regular meetings of self-help groups
• Put on art exhibitions attracting country-wide media attention
• Supported a sheltered housing project for people leaving long term psychiatric care
• Established agricultural and jewellery–making employment projects.
• Produced numerous publications to inform users of about their human rights
• Trains volunteers to reach out to isolated people.

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Savez: Association for mutual support in mental distress, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Leader of organisation: Fadil Šiširak, President
Vahid Đulovic, Vice President
Halida Vejzagic, Secretary
Address: Bolnicka 25
Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Tel: + 387 ( 0 ) 33 219 546, + 387 ( 0 ) 36 577 090
Fax: + 387 ( 0 ) 33 219 546, + 387 ( 0 ) 36 577 090
Email: behar@cob.net.ba, rea@bih.net.ba

Savez, an association for mutual support in mental distress, is a non-governmental organisation formed in 2001 in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It acts as an umbrella organisation for the following seven active associations for mutual support in mental distress from Bosnia and Herzegovina :

• Stela Association, Zenica
• Nada (Hope), Doboj
• Behar Association, Mostar
• Novi Pogledi Association, Gracanica
• Vita Association, Sarajevo
• Fenix Association, Tuzla
• Sonata Association, Trebinje

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Nada (Hope), Doboj

Main contact: Mr Blagoje Cakarevic
Address: Nemnjina 18
74000 Doboj
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Email: dzdoboj@doboj.net (put "Nada" in subject box)
Tel: +387 (0) 53 233 733 (Health Centre)
Fax: +387 (0) 53 241 810 / 233 733 (Health Centre)

Nada, founded in May 2001 in Doboj, Srpska Republic, BiH, is an independent, non-profit organisation of people with psychiatric experience, and those who want to avoid this experience, through help and self-help.
Our aims:

• To promote the integration of users of mental health services in the wider community.
• To promote the rights and the needs of people who use mental health services.
• To achieve a high level of mutual support through alternative ways of living through a crisis and to improve the quality of life of people with mental health problems.

• Establishing co-operation with the carers.
• Organising education and training for service users
• Raising awareness within the local community about the needs of people who use mental health services.
• Providing help and support for people to lead independent lives.
• Promoting psycho-social rehabilitation and resocialisation.
• Promoting the establishment of equal rights in employment.

Our association aims to organise better psycho-social support for people with psychiatric experiences and to fight for such people to have continued social and other necessary care in order to live a dignified life.

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Novi Pogledi (New Approaches), Gracanica

President: Mirsad Delic
Address: M Ahmedbegovic bb
Gracanica 75320
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Tel: +387 (0) 35 787 408
Fax: +387 (0) 35 786 061
Email: npogled@hotmail.com
Website: www.cmhr-bosnia.org

Novi Pogledi, an independent, non-profit, voluntary organisation, was developed to enable people with mental health problems to fulfil the basic human right to contribute to the development of their community. The aims of the Association are to improve mutual co-operation and support; to pursue alternative ways of living through a crisis; to participate in the process of shaping health and social policy; to evaluate the work of relevant medical and social organisations; and to ensure the improvement of the quality of life of people who are labelled 'mentally ill'.
Novi Pogledi's work encompasses:

• A humane approach in working with people with long-term mental health problems
• Practical aid and help through a user drop-in service
• Promoting equal rights for those with mental health problems
• Shaping of draft legislation on mental health
• Changing public perceptions of users of mental health services through co-operation with media
• Initiation of a mobile users team to help those in crisis
• Professional and artistic publications
• Organisation of public forums, exhibitions and concerts.

• Setting up a small social enterprise, such as a small crafts co-operative.
• Publishing materials on various aspects of mental health, as well as education offered by relevant experts.
• The provision of social tourism schemes to our members.

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Stella, Zenica Main contact: Berzad Bijedic Board Members: Midhat Kasap - Chairman of Assembly Berzad Bijedic - President Smail Trtak - Secretary Zlatan Antolis Mirsad Tartic Vahida Vukovic Address: Fra Ivana Jukica br 2 Zenica 72000, Bosnia-Herzegovina Tel. +387 (0) 32 417 747 / 203 401 Fax +387 (0) 32 411 130

Stella group

The Stella Association of Citizens was founded in June 2000, and has its base in the Community Mental Health Centre (CMHC) in Zenica. The association works on a strictly voluntary basis whose aim is to provide an environment in which users of mental health services can support themselves and each other. Occasional support is provided by professionals from the CMHC. Members of Stella engage in a wide range of activities including literary work, music, painting and tennis, and the association is open to working jointly with other groups and individuals.

If you would like to contact Stella for help or advice call 032 - 203 401 or 032 - 411 130 - all calls are completely confidential. Stella is open Monday to Friday 10am to 12pm.

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Vita Association, Sarajevo Vice-president/Main contact: Halida Vejzagic Address: Ul. Bolnicka 25 Dnevna Bolnica "Dr Nedo Zec" 71000 Sarajevo Bosnia-Herzegovina Tel: +387 33 219 546

Halida Vejzagic, Vita Vice-President and Hamlet's Local Policy Co-ordinator

Vita Association is a new way of organising care, improvement of life conditions and rehabilitation of people who have or have had mental health problems.

Vita's main activities are focussed on psychosocial rehabilitation through different mediums including art, music, photography and chess. The Association also promotes the development of work skills with a view to obtaining employment, and provides assistance in solving various economic, social and legal issues. The prevention and alleviation of mental health problems is another aim, either by means of a self-help group which can intervene during crises, or through response to SOS calls. A newsletter is also produced by users in which they have a forum to air their views, and share items of special interest for users of mental health services. Financial support permitting, we aim to organise further seminars, lectures, presentations, workshops and discussions in the future.

If you would like to become involved in our work, either by co-operating with us, by sending a donation or by becoming a member, please contact us. We look forward to hearing from you!

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