VEUS is an organization that brings together associations of people with the experience of mental disorder in Catalonia. All the associations have approximately 500 individual members in total.
Organisation structure:
Currently VEUS has 7 federated associations which participate in all the managing structures:
ActivaMent http://www.activament.org/
ADEMM http://www.ademm-usm.cat/
Emilia http://www.emiliaonline.org/
Imagina http://www.gtimagina.org/
Matissos http://www.matissos.org/
Ràdio Nikosia http://www.radionikosia.org/
Terraferma https://goo.gl/c7g4Yf
Objectives and aims:
The VEUS Federation aims to improve the quality of life of people with mental disorders in Catalonia; and ensure the fulfilment of their rights, through representativeness, coordination and support to associations of people with mental disorders.
The Federation’s vision is
- to establish ourselves as a leader in mental health in Catalonia and representative of the community of people with mental disorders and their organizations;
- working as spokespersons and defenders of their rights to non-discrimination and equality;
- participating in the design of health and social policies.
Values:
Self-determination: To represent us, people with mental health problems in front of the administration and other organizations and institutions, bringing our needs and demands in 1st person.
Horizontality: To work from a non-hierarchical functioning model, through inclusive assemblies in which all the member organizations have the same importance.
Justice: With the commitment to make our society fairer and more solidary, defending the rights of people with a diagnosis of mental disorder and promoting the recognition of their skills and abilities.
Diversity: Understanding the value of differences, enriching us with the particularities of each organization, not imposing a single voice and promote the diversity of positions and opinions.
Solidarity: Working from the collective strength to help all member organizations to grow and offer our support to other groups at risk of social exclusion.
Activities:
- Promote and strengthen 1st Person associations
- Represent the collective of people with mental disorders and the federated associations
- Ensure compliance with human rights of people with mental disorders.
- Improve health, social and economic policies oriented to mental health.
- Combat discrimination based on mental health
- Coordinate and guide the member associations within the federated network
- Promote peer support training and accompaniment
- Train and sensitize mental health professionals in citizenship and recovery-based values
- Encourage the development of cultural projects aimed at people with the experience of mental disorder
- Promote youth activism in the associations
- Promote volunteering to strengthen structure and functioning of the Federation
Sources of funding:
Barcelona City Council
Barcelona Provincial Council
Catalan Department of Health
Catalan Department of Work, Social Affairs and Families
Welfare Foundation La Caixa
Full address: C/ del Correu Vell, 8, 08002, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Tel.: 0034679125150 E-mail: rdi@veus.cat
Website: http://veus.cat/
Name and position of the person representing the organisation:
Francisco Jose Eiroa Orosa, Chair for Research, Development and International Relations;
Tel: 0034679125150;
E-mail: fjeiroa@gmail.com