KMK ¿Ke Me Kuentas?:Care, Guidance and Support Space for young people with a Dual Diagnosis (Barcelona)

The KMK Project supports young people aged 15 to 26 with dual diagnosis and their families, and is located in the Bon Pastor neighbourhood of Barcelona. The lack of continuing psychosocial services for young people and the needs of the area (Franja Besós) were essential to the development of the service. The aim is to improve the quality of life of young people and of their social, family and community environment.

The intervention is built on the experience in mental health and drugs of two Third Sector organisations: Asociación para la Rehabilitación de las Personas con Enfermedad Mental (AREP) and Fundación Salud y Comunidad (FSC).

KMK is a city-wide project, accessible to citizens and constantly evolving, which addresses the social needs of the area by actively involving the various key stakeholders (social services, professionals from the mental health network, the drug addiction care network…) and fosters ties with the community (neighbours, shops, community services…).

The Service is structured around two dimensions:

• Person-centred dimension, aimed at ensuring that care addresses the particular circumstances of each of the service’s beneficiaries.
• Community action dimension, which seeks the contribution and involvement of the community as a whole.

This twofold dimension takes shape, on the one hand, through a portfolio of services with an inclusive and dynamic methodology that is open to change, in constant synergy with the community; and, on the other, through the incorporation of participatory methodologies that improve and foster the building of citizenship.

The role of “Case Manager” is key to facilitating the work, promoting coordination between the different services (social, health, mental health…) and offering an individualised care service in each case. Their role is to accompany the people served throughout their journey through the different services, acting as the link between the case and the reference resource; the aim is to coordinate the networks so that they adapt to specific needs.

The working methodology is defined through Areas of intervention that include guidance, advice and empowerment services, as well as psycho-educational and employment programmes.

• Promotion of Autonomy.
• Occupational and Training.
• Psychological support.
• Support for Families.

The service is open in the afternoons from 3 pm to 8 pm for group care and activities. Two mornings a week, individual therapeutic support and training and/or occupational guidance are offered.

This project has the collaboration and involvement of Barcelona City Council.