First protected apartment for persons with mental health problems opened in Balti

The first protected apartment for persons suffering from mental illnesses has been opened in Balti town. Four persons will live in the two-room apartment, Info-Prim Neo reports, quoting a communiqué from the NGO “Somato”. The apartment is located in a building in the center of the town. It was outfitted with everything that is necessary. The protected apartment was opened within a project implemented by “Somato” with financial support from the Delegation of the European Union to Moldova, Hungary’s Mental Health Initiative Open Society Institute, and the Dutch Global Initiative Hilversum. The Balti mayor’s office is also a partner of the project. The Head of the EU Delegation to Moldova Dirk Shuebel visited the protected apartment on February 17. He said the given project is a successful one as persons with mental health problems will live in decent conditions. “This project is implemented at not so high costs, but important things are done within it,” said the European official. According to the head of “Somato” Association Jana Chihai, another three protected apartments will be opened this summer. Sixteen persons with mental disabilities will live in the four apartments of the kind. Corina Popa, head of the Mental Health Center “Somato”, which was opened by “Somato” Association, said persons who are able to live independently and have a job will live in the protected apartments. The dwellers will be monitored daily by social workers of the Center “Somato”, who will help them in the daily activities. The Association “Somato” is a nongovernmental organization based in Balti municipality. It has worked in the area of mental health since 1999 and is among the first organizations of the kind in Moldova.