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An Interactive Online Project to Promote Recovery & Social Inclusion of People with Psychiatric Disabilities
The "Makshivim" group was established in September 2005 by its founder, Eitan Ben-Itzhak Klutch: "During that time I was pursuing my bachelor's degree in "Behavioral Sciences. I started working in the therapeutic-rehabilitative field".
Later Eitan became a coach/personal counselor to a consumer at the "Honchut" project (a service that accompanies consumers and helps them interact & mainstream in society) and noticed that many youngsters avoided attending social clubs because of self stigma and difficulty to admit they were copping with a mental illness. On the other hand, they felt a great need for company and for having fun.
There is a large group of consumers with a high level of functioning that cannot get a suitable response to their needs in the existing rehabilitation systems; the need to reach them has increased. The idea for an internet-based social network came up in order to answer this social need, which is often avoided due to fear of exposure and stigma.
Following this, along with his studies towards a Masters degree in developing educational systems, Eitan professionalized in the development of computerized educational systems. As he continued to work in the field of mental health rehabilitation as a counselor, he came up with the idea to create an online support group aimed for youngsters in order to facilitate and give them the opportunity to make their own friends and decide their own social network- to go out together, have fun and communicate.
Recognizing this need, Eitan contacted a consumers social club for young adults at Enosh in Netanya in order to tested their reaction to the project. Four members agreed to join the project. In the beginning the group numbered four members who held an online connection. After a fortnight of almost everyday chats on the internet, a personal contact was formed between the members of that group and they went out to the cinema together.
The rumors about the activity of the group were passed over by the consumers in various forums. Consumers who had gone through psychiatric hospitalization expressed their will to join the project, as they were not linked to any official service and were looking for companionship, a place where they could be understood. As soon as the project numbered 60 participants, Eitan submitted an application to the Israeli Ministry of Health to help with its funding.
Mr. Yechiel Sharshavsky, who is the Head of the Mental Health Rehabilitation Services at the Ministry of Health, gave his approval to the project Since January 1, 2007, Makshivim Project became part of the "Enosh" organization (NGO). The next step was hiring municipal coordinators who are themselves consumers. More and more new members joined the project each month. The project guarantees confidentiality in parallel to its ability to allow creating social ties with similar population all day long.
"I believe that it will be possible to carry out the project in any country with adaptation to the need of the consumers in that country" says Eitan. Until now, there are several countries around the world where the project has been approved to be presented in international contests (in Australia, New-Zealand and Europe).
As well, there is a wide consent to help in promoting the project by international organizations involved in mental health.
In this case, every country will be in charge of its own project, but there will be an international site that will allow co-operation between all members of the project around the world to establish one big organization that will supply answers to contests, support and exchange of ideas when there will be one representative for each country.
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