Individualised Support Service in the field of mental health and dual diagnosis (Catalonia)

The SAI (Individualised Support Service) offers individual and group spaces to people in a situation of particular vulnerability due to their personal and social circumstances, aggravated by the prevalence of a diagnosis of mental health problems and/or addictions and/or HIV/AIDS. Through individual work plans, it seeks maximum community integration, promoting autonomy and providing comprehensive support (family, social, health, legal and employment). The SAI is supported by the Department of Social Rights and Inclusion of the Generalitat de Catalunya through the ordinary call for grants for social organisations (CONVO).

Advice and support spaces are also offered to family members, as well as guidance and information to professionals in the care network.

The SAI offers:

• Interviews: regular meetings to work on the PTI.
• Accompaniment: in the social, health, employment, legal, financial and family spheres.
• Coordination: activation and/or follow-up of the specialised care network, in coordination with the relevant social and/or health stakeholders. Arranging referrals to specialised services.
• Guiding beneficiaries through the different existing mental health and addiction networks and the corresponding procedures for the provision of support measures.
• Providing technical information on mental health diagnoses, drug addiction and dual diagnosis to the people concerned as well as to professionals and families.
• Providing technical information to professionals working in the field of support measures.
• Raising community awareness of support measures for the exercise of legal capacity, their characteristics, implications and limitations.

The methodology is individual and flexible, allowing a precise technical approach and the identification of the particular needs of each case. It is a distinctive element, defined by the responsibility of offering support in all spheres of the person’s life while respecting their wishes.

A comprehensive, personalised approach that includes individual interview spaces, accompaniment in the person’s environment, and coordination and referrals with the reference professionals of the services in the care network, reflecting a holistic vision of case management.