A large cozy room with a large table, a library, colorful paintings on the walls, a flowered terrace; we are far from the sanitized atmosphere of services and white coats. Fabrice, followed by George Sand, worked for the creation of this house: ” I would like vulnerable people to be able to integrate into society. It is essential to get better and what this place should contribute to. I had a somewhat difficult journey and what really helped me was volunteering in associations. This allowed me to regain confidence in myself and then find a job. “
The inauguration ceremony in the presence of patients © Radio France – Michel Benoît
Creating links, including with the outside world, will be one of the missions of this users’ center: ” We encourage users, that is to say our patients, to go to associations but alone, it’s really not easy, summarizes Suzanne Uch, health executive. This is why George Sand had the idea of opening his doors and bringing in associations so that they could support these people towards citizenship. We called this place “house” because it’s not a simple space but we wanted to do something family-friendly and warm there.”
A large table to bring together “users” © Radio France – Michel Benoît
UNAFAM, for example, the National Union of Families and Friends of Sick People, will hold offices : ” Families and users are not always aware of their rights explains Bernadette Le Guen, user representative at George Sand hospital. When you have a loved one who suffers from a mental illness, it’s complicated. We are lost, we don’t know where to go. To have a place with people who have been there, Obviously this can be a comfort and then a source of information.” Unafam hopes to be able to reach many more families who did not previously know where to call for support.
The paintings were painted by a patient © Radio France – Michel Benoît
This User Center also welcomes therapeutic workshops hosted by Anne-Marie Nedelec: ” Already, it is a place which is outside the units, summarizes the pharmacist at George Sand hospital. It changes from the unit where we are taken care of. It is a calming place, with beautiful light. We feel good there. As proof, we finished a session some time ago and two patients arrived at the pharmacy asking me if they could do another session, because it was so good. It speaks for itself! This means that the treatment will certainly be better accepted . It’s not easy to get mental health treatment. There are side effects; we often have to take it for a very long time. We don’t know how we’re going to manage perhaps gaining weight. So we play things down because people really need to know what they are taking, how it works and to be able to manage their treatment on a daily basis.“
A pretty terrace also © Radio France – Michel Benoît
For the moment, the users’ center of the George Sand hospital is open two afternoons per week (Tuesdays and Thursdays). It is freely accessible for all.
