The Impact of Culture and Ethnicity on Mental Health

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The Impact of Culture and Ethnicity on Mental
Health

• Jerusalem, Israel
• 18th 21st September 2008
• GAMIAN-Europe 11th Annual Educational Convention

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Providing Rehabilitation Services to an
Expanding and Multi-Cultural Population By Ruth
Leitner Director of Supported Employment
Services
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Rehabilitation Services

• Fifty two branches throughout Israel serving
  5,000 consumers from all ethnical groups in
  Israel Jewish, Arabs, Druze and new immigrants.

• Social Clubs
• Vocational Clubs
• Supported Employment
• Supported Housing

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Additional Services

• Family counseling centers
• Annul family conferences
• Annual holidays in Israel and abroad
• Enrichment lectures
• Advocacy
• Public outreach

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Special Projects

• Maof business enterprise
• Makshavim Internet group
• Coffee houses
• Art exhibits
• Choir
• The Green house
• Afula Theatre
• Arab Women
• Druz Youth
• HomeCenter
• Spirit of Man

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THE STORY OF Y

• Dealing with a mental illness since his teens
• Receiving psychiatric treatment
• Receiving Enosh rehabilitation services
• supported housing, supported employment,
  supported education
• Many dreams
• Outcomes
• Married, working full time in a hostel as a
  consumer provider, chosen as best worker of the
  year, making a good salary, increased
  self-esteem, involved in the community,
  fulfilling his dreams

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Most Recent Activities

• Publishing the book Windings - 25 short stories
  by consumers and famous Israeli authors
• Presentation at the World Federation of Mental
  Health International Forum on Mental Health and
  Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings
  August 2008
• Initiating international project on the use of
  applied humour for mental health rehabilitation
  and destigmatization.

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Summary

• Rich and varied services and activities
• Constant development of new programs for the
  specific needs of our targeted and multi-cultural
  population.
• New focus on including consumers in the decision
  making process, and as employed workers in the
  organization.

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Thank you

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