The Association KOLUMBUS is a network of persons which unites persons having experience with services of care for mental health. The Association strives for the compliance with the basic Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedom for people with psychiatric diagnosis. It is divided into two Chambers according to the experience with the care for mental health - direct or non-direct. The Association KOLUMBUS is non state, non political and non religious network which unites only physical persons.
The Association KOLUMBUS strives for:
- the improvement of care in psychiatric hospitals.
- the development of community care and services for persons with psychiatric diagnosis.
- the creation and signature of an complex Law on Mental Health.
- the protection of safekeeping of legal help to persons with psychiatric diagnosis towards Courts, especially in proceedings about the detention and eligibility for legal capacity.
A. Own activities of the KOLUMBUS association:
- consultancy and protection of rights of people with mental illness (psychiatric diagnosis).
- lecture and educational activities for the staff of psychiatric hospitals, community institutions and broader public.
- exchange of good practices in psychiatric hospitals.
- active participation on conferences and seminars regarding psychiatry and care for mental health in Czech Republic and abroad.
- commenting of Laws and legal regulations, proposals of amendments of existing legal regulations, preparation of draft laws about Mental Health.
- organizing of educational seminars and trainings for the users and user´s organisations / Internet, rights of patients, consultancy i.e / .
- work with media / publishing of articles and interviews regarding mental health and de-stigmatization of psychiatry /.
- development of co-operation with domestic and foreign civic associations involved in the health, social sphere and in the field of protection of human rights.
- organizing of exhibitions of visual arts of users of psychiatric care.
- organizing of excursions, rehabilitative and exchange trips for the users.
B. Co-operation and involvement to projects of other organisations in the Czech Republic:
- participation on the creation of an complex Law about Mental Health in co-operation with the Czech National Disability Council (NRZP).
- participation in the regional Council of the Czech Disability Council (NRZP CŘ) in Olomouc and in Prague.
- participation in the project of the Association of advocates PRO BONO / non paid representation by advocates /.
- participation in the executive Council of the Czech Association for Mental Health /ČAPZ/.
- participation in community planning – in Ústí nad Labem, in Litoměřice, in Lovosice, in Liberec, in Jablonec nad Nisou, in Prague 10, in Pardubice, in Olomouc, in Olomouc Region, in Brno.
- co-operation on commenting of a new Civil Code /nursing care and withdrawal or restriction of legal capacity.
- commenting of Law about Health and Special Health Services in co-operation with Czech National Disability Council (NRZP).
- membership in the Czech National Disability Council (NRZP) - the programme Declaration of the nationwide Congress – implementation of an complex Law about Mental Health.
C. Co-operation and involvement to activities abroad:
- co-operation with MDAC /Mental Disability Advocacy Center/
- co-operation with the Slovak civic Association of users Preměny and ODOS from Slovakia.
- participation in GAMIAN Europe /Global Alliance Mental Illness Advocacy Network/ conference September 2008 Jerusalem- Israel.
