«Melia» Residential Facility

For children whose parents have mental problems.

«Melia was one of the three nymphs who nursed the infant Zeus with honey and milk in the Cretan cave of Dicte, when his mother entrusted him to them.»

When parents have mental problems, the whole family and its way of functioning are affected, in particular children and adolescents. Living with a parent who is suffering from a severe mental disorder is often a harsh, incomprehensible and sometimes frightening experience for young children.

"Melia" Residential Facility for Children is addressed to boys and girls aged 5-12 years, whose parents are unable to fulfil their parental role, due to mental health problems. The average stay varies from a couple of weeks to one year, depending on the needs of each family.

"Melia" Residential Facility is not a hospital structure and cannot shelter children with:

acute or chronic child psychiatric symptomatology moderate and severe mental retardation, as well as autistic symptomatology (severe communication impairments, severe stereotypic and self-injurious behavior) severe somatic problems (unregulated epilepsy, hemorrhagic colitis, anorexia nervosa, somatic weight loss).

AIMS:

• To create an environment, where children will be able to discover and understand more their own needs and feelings
• To prevent mental illness for all children sheltered in "Melia"
• To provide adequate information to children about their parents' mental disorder and its treatment
• To support parents in their parental roles, in accepting their problem and their need for treatment

The Facility's ultimate goal is:
to help these children return to their homes and be reunited with their families or, if not possible, to help them settle down in a stable residential structure.

TASKS:

• Assessing, identifying and meeting the children's needs, as well as the needs of their parents and families, at mental health and social welfare level
• Hosting, providing care and support to children with mentally ill parents, and meeting their personalised needs for learning, education and creative occupation
• Systematic collaboration between the family and the interdisciplinary team of the Facility
• Interconnecting collaboration with all community services working with the family, and creating a supportive network for the family (adult psychiatric services, child psychiatric services, social welfare services, etc.)
• Monitoring and supporting the interaction between children and parents, and the functionality of the family, when children return home - Providing information, mental education and consultation to families with mentally ill parents, within the community, in case there is no need to shelter the children
• Providing information and awareness-raising in the community about mental illness and parents-children relationship

"Melia" Residential Facility is staffed by: A child psychiatrist - head of the team, a psychiatrist, psychologists, social workers, a nurse, kindergarten teachers, other mental health specialists and a housekeeper.

During their stay: The children, according to their learning potential and educational needs, may attend community schools. Where necessary, remedial teaching in the framework of special education or any other special support is provided. Pedagogical and creative occupation activities are organised according to the needs and interests of the sheltered children.

• The children's free time is filled with activities within the community, as this is the perfect occasion for the development of personal relationships, interaction, communication and personal interests.
• Ties between children and their families are strengthened, as family members and relatives visit the Facility, while children visit their family environment or their parents in their place of hospitalisation.

children need their mommy and daddy despite of their psychoemotional problems mentally ill parents need, and are entitled to, their relationship with their children and families "Melia" Residential Facility is funded and supervised by the Directorate of Mental Health, Greek Ministry of Health and Social Solidarity. Address: 4 Pityoundos & Farkadonos Str., 111 42, Lambrini - Athens Tel: +30 210 2135895.