Hungary

Population: 10 million (Source: World Bank 2000) Hamlet Trust has had links with Hungary since 1994, and we currently have links with 3 organisations. They are: Lélek-Hang Egyesület (Voice of Soul), Budapest Varázshegy Association - Magic Hill, Budapest Soteria Alapitvany (Soteria Foundation), Budapest     Lélek-Hang Egyesület - Voice of Soul Main contact: Zsolt Szoke Board members: Gábor Gombos - chair Juhász Katalin Gombosné Andrea Borbély László Csanádi Ciáni Anna, treasurer Ulrich János Vitéz Ferenc Control Committee: János Csaba Borbély, chair Erika Karácsony Margit Sütõ Address: Klauzal u.31 f.6, Budapest H1072, Hungary Tel: +361 268 9917 Fax: +361 268 9917 Email: szoeke@freemail.hu (Hungarian) gombosg@mail.matav.hu (English) Website: www.c3.hu/~lelekhan Voice of Soul Association is a fully user run and user controlled NGO of public benefit that aims at equal opportunities for people who are or have been at the receiving end of mental health services. Empowerment of former and present "mental patients" is among our priorities. Voice of Soul is fighting for alternatives to conventional services that are based on the medical model. Demedicalisation of non-medical issues in human suffering is vitally important for us. Autonomy and self-determination of people who have experienced emotional/spiritual/mental distress are basic values in Voice of Soul. Voice of Soul acts as a catalyst in Hungary to help new user controlled groups. The association is also active in the field of direct representation of recipients of mental health services at a National level. Our activities include: Language Club Computer Club Green Club Arts Club (see our monthly gallery) Agricultural (rabbit-breeding) co-operative European Computer Driving Licence Course Empowerment Club Training for advocates Set up residents councils in long term institutions Back to top Varázshegy Association - Magic Hill Main Contacts: Adam Novak/Robert Ivanyi Address: 1118 Budapest Csiki-hegyek u.5 VIII./30. Hungary Tel: 0036 1 246 6306 Email: novakadam@hu.inter.net or magic.hill@freemail.hu The Varázshegy Association is a self supporting organisation of users or ex-users of mental health services and survivors, a place where people can support each other to solve mental health and social problems. Through this kind of mutual support we aim to prevent hospital treatment where at all possible. Where this is not possible we provide support by making visits to people in hospital and by helping them to live in the community once they have left hospital. The association also aims to challenge prejudice and stigma within society towards people with experience of psychiatric services and to encourage open communication about mental health issues. In 2003 Magic Hill organised a country-wide exhibition in which our members, together with the residents of social care homes and other organisations, highlighted the fact that people living with severe mental health problems deserve to be treated equally and are capable of being valuable, active members of the community. Back to top Soteria Foundation Leader of Organisation: Janos Vizi, MD Board members: Janos Vizi, MD – psychiatrist Eva Csom, MD – psychiatrist Jozsef Racz, MD – psychiatrist Tibor Varga - relative of a psychotic user, manager Address: Kecskeméti u. 11, 1053 Budapest, Hungary Tel: +36 1 250 3383 Fax: + 36 1 250 3383 Email: soteria@axelero.hu Website: www.soteria.hu The Soteria Foundation in Budapest was organised by both professionals and non-professionals with the purpose of forming community-based services for people who otherwise would become psychiatric patients. We have two services: Clubhouse (day centre) for people who are affected by psychiatric problems Case management team Our further purpose is to establish a residential home for people with mental health problems as an alternative to the psychiatric hospital, providing a special crisis treatment with psychosocial methods. Back to top