The plenary hall of the Sueca City Council welcomed professionals from the European Platform for Rehabilitation (EPR), a network that brings together entities and organizations providing services for people with severe mental illness. The meeting is part of the Best Practices and Inclusion Conference, organized by the SASM Foundation, a member of the Platform, aiming to create a space for cooperation and mutual learning.
Participants come from various countries including Estonia, France, Belgium, Greece, and Ireland, as well as Spain, represented by the care resources of the SASM Foundation in Sueca. The Mayor of Sueca and President of the SASM Foundation, Julián Sáez, welcomed the visitors, who were accompanied by the founding patron and secretary of the SASM Foundation, Vicente González, and staff members of the organization.
"For us, as a society, any professional effort that contributes to improving people's quality of life will always be worthy of praise. In Sueca, we have a great example in the SASM Foundation. Thanks to it, we have witnessed countless projects and initiatives they have carried out over the years with a common denominator: the well-being of users, improving their quality of life to be more independent, inclusive, and motivational," stated Mayor Julián Sáez.
Vicente González explained that these annual meetings for knowledge exchange and research are organized by a member of the Platform. "Yesterday's conference consisted of a series of talks where, on our part, we presented all the initiatives we undertake through our resources, such as the relationship between sport and mental health with the Sportsa project; inclusion in employment, thanks to the Inclucatering company; or rehabilitation based on interaction with horses. The assessment has been very positive," he added.
Following the reception at the City Council, participants visited various community services and initiatives developed by the SASM Foundation in Sueca. These include collaboration projects with the municipality, the Specific Center for People with Mental Illness (CEEM), the Galatea and Atenea resources, and Functional Diversity Services, with the aim of learning about experiences related to person-centered support, community inclusion, employment pathways, and independent living initiatives.
