Innovation and development of courses focused on mental health

About this project

<p>As part of student education at VSPJ, we wish to modernise and innovate teaching in the mental health field. We will strengthen the compulsory course Introduction to Psychiatry and Psychopathology by involving experts by experience. Experts lecture on the latest knowledge and trends in mental health care and consciously use their experience with mental health problems to benefit others. They are "living" evidence that recovery is possible. It is not about the spontaneous sharing of their story. Experts must have their experience very well processed, and they apply only relevant topics in teaching. The goal of sharing experience, in this case, is not uncontrolled "opening up", but achieving an educational effect.<br> We are cooperating on the project with the Centre for Mental Health Care Development in Prague, which will train our new experts by experience in teaching skills, help to prepare teaching materials, enable the sharing of expertise and provide support from senior experts by experience. The Norwegian project partner, Department for Work, Social Welfare and Housing of the City of Bergen, brings inspiration and expertise regarding building many experts by experience, their involvement in secondary and tertiary education, the further education of professionals, and widespread participation in the community. We will share good practices with both partner institutions in innovating courses related to mental health care.</p>

Bilateral cooperation results

Cooperation with our project partners was crucial. CMHCD shared their experiences and knowledge from Experts by experience position introducer in CZ point of view. It was important to see Expert´s role in context of the Czech culture too. Norwegian partner introduced us their system of involving Experts by experience (peer support workers) in various organizations and positions in Bergen. It was interesting to see some differences in culture e.g. people in Norway are used to establish associations which represent “voice” of many people who would like to open dialog about new approaches, concepts etc. Thanks to the partnerships we have contacts with services in Bergen where our students can travel. We have the opportunity to develop the Recovery College in Jihlava and other topics that we have come across while working with project partners. Thank you for the opportunity!

Project partners

• CITY OF BERGEN Donor project partner· Norway
• Centre for mental health care development Project partner· Czechia