Transcript Document

«PERSEAS»
Counseling
Center for
Adolescents and
Family
Brief Description of «PERSEAS»

Our Center belongs to the Mental Health Services, of
the Ministry of Health and exclusively specializes in
Adolescent Drug users and their Families. We have
been established since 1999 and we are located in
a nice built-up area in Nicosia since August 2002

We address ADOLESCENTS and YOUNG ADULTS up
to the age of 22, who are drug users on an
experimental, casual, or even more systematic base,
as well as their FAMILIES
Brief Description of «PERSEAS»
(…continued)

All our services are free and confidential. The identity and
personal data is carefully protected in all aspects and
functions of our Center

We promptly arrange first contact mainly during
AFTERNOON HOURS, so that adolescents are able to
continue their educational or occupational activities in the
morning.

First appointments with the adolescent or/and parents
are arranged by immediate response to calls at 1456
Brief Description of «PERSEAS»
(…continued)

After the stage of evaluation we offer a range of
interventions, structured in a program designed
according to the needs and in collaboration with the
client
1.
5 sessions program for adolescents
Brief intervention
Intensive program
Program for the support and activation of parents
2.
3.
4.
«PERSEAS» Drug Helpline
operation of our helpline 1456
was approved as a complete
member by FESAT in May 2003
Τhe
«PERSEAS» Drug Helpline
(…continued)

Since then FESAT has provided supervisory help,
education and specialization

Is committed in following approved specifications
and the Ethical Code of FESAT

Its operation is conditioned by close collaboration
and feedback by FESAT

Data is sent to FESAT and publicized to all countries
members
«PERSEAS» Drug Helpline
(…continued)
Offers a variety of services:
 Information
 Guidance
 Support
 Referral
 Undertaking of cases

Functions on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays
7.30 - 18.00 and on Tuesdays and Fridays 7.30 - 14.30
 Our helpline is the unique member of FESAT in
Cyprus

Who Addresses The Helpline







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Adolescents
Parents
Siblings, relatives and friends
Health professionals
Educators
Social workers
People concerned with drug problems in their
environment
Drug Law Enforcement Unit
(There is a clear frame of collaboration with this unit
and referrals from this source have been particularly
increased since 2008. Our collaboration has been
even more structured with the implementation of the
European program «FreD goes net»)
Additional Information
 Number
of staff: All therapeutic staff of PERSEAS (6-7), with
daily switched shifts (no volunteers)
 Our
approach is based on the Systemic Theory and
integrates CBT and Motivational Interviewing Techniques
 Support
and Supervision is done through
discussions of calls, during clinical staff meetings
 Average
weekly
number of calls per month for the year 2009 ± 20
 There
is a network of specialized drug units
within the Mental Health Services. PERSEAS, as
part of them has managed to create a specific
public identity of a unit specialized in
Adolescence
 The
above results to the limitation of phone
calls and the increase of those which address
only adolescent specific problems

One of our main goals achieved in the past 2 years was the
establishment of a better and closer collaboration with
schools, which has significantly increased the referrals
from this source
In the near future we aim towards the same achievement
with the army and social services
(There are a variety of actions within the National Strategy
2009-2012 which aim towards the achievement of the above)

 In
2004 there was an initial plan to provide email services
and online responses but is still pending.
Support and
supervision by FESAT
would be very helpful in order
to implement this program as soon as possible
 One
of our obstacles in daily practice of the helpline is the
working time schedule. There is a difficulty to cover the line
on a 24hour base
 Another
main aim is to publicize our helpline, but we have
not been able to promote due to the lack of funding
 It
is important to mention that most
professionals referring cases to PERSEAS
immediately address the therapeutic staff and
not the helpline, thus limiting the helpline as a
line of correspondence to the public