The Care and Concern Foundation, which operates in Wrocław and is led by Anna Kraucz-Miękus, a historian and neurologist, will soon be launching its own support programme for people with mental disorders. An agreement to this effect was signed with the city a few days ago.

The Foundation wants to take care of people who do not require hospital treatment, but who need professional help: people suffering from schizophrenia, other psychotic disorders, depression, Alzheimer's disease.

The Foundation has a psychiatrist, a psychologist, a psychiatric nurse, therapists. Any day now, they will start visiting their charges at home. Volunteers and nurses will teach them how to get around in the world, how to run their affairs, manage their money. They will relieve the burden on families and try to convince the patients themselves that isolation is not a way of life. The support programme also includes regular contact with a psychiatrist and work outside - outings to the Botanic Garden, the cinema, the supermarket. And there is also contact with a group, so that the patient can see that others have similar problems.

The foundation is linked to the Sisters of Mary Immaculate from Psie Pole. The permanent meeting place will be the day care centre operating at the St James parish in Krzywousty Street. Weekly art therapy workshops will be held there: ceramics, drawing and music classes. The workshops and medical care will be free of charge.

The Foundation is appealing for volunteers: help is needed, especially from students of pedagogy, medicine, psychology, who will travel to the patients, go out into the city with them or even co-lead classes.

Contact telephone numbers for patients and volunteers:
0606 611 809, 0603 770 387