tal health for professionals and lay people. It was originally founded in 1897 to support and help people recovering from mental health disorders. It is the world's oldest voluntary organisation promoting mental health.
Currently, the Association provides crisis and rehabilitation services, runs pilot projects, and disseminates information about mental health issues. It acts as a consultant to the authorities and as an umbrella organisation for its 47 member organisations, which carry out the same mission at the local level. The Association arranges training for mental health professionals, and is currently conducting a research project on mental health rehabilitation services. 19 It also supports certain client groups such as foreigners living in Finland, people who have experienced job burnout or financial difficulties and the homeless. In 1999, the Association published a guide "Työterveydenhuolto uupuneen valmentajana" (Occupational health care for people with job exhaustion) to familiarise occupational health care staff with issues related to burnout, stress, and job exhaustion.20
THE CENTRAL ASSOCIATION FOR MENTAL HEALTH
The Central Association for Mental Health, founded in 1971, is an association for the handicapped established by psychiatric patients. Its objectives are to give patients a voice, and to ensure that the mentally ill are entitled to good care and rehabilitation, an adequate income, and a normal life. Members of the nursing profession and the general public interested in the subject play an active part in the Association and its 132 member organisations. The Association provides training for living with disabilities, legal aid, and caregivers, and organises family vacations, physical exercise etc. It publishes a bi-monthly journal "Käsi Kädessä" (Hand in Hand), organises annual Mental Health Week,21 and maintains an infobase on rehabilitation services for people with mental health problems. The Infobase can be accessed at http://www.mtkl.fi/tietopalvelukeskus/page.htm.
FPED FOUNDATION (FOUNDATION PROMOTING EMPLOYMENT OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITY)22
The FPED Foundation is a co-operative organisation promoting employment and rehabilitation of persons with physical or mental health disabilities. The Foundation co-operates with organisations and associations for and of persons with disabilities, government, regional authorities, business, industry, and other associations. It was established in 1993 by 19 national associations and organisations.
The Foundation runs programmes which develop innovative job opportunities for persons with disabilities. It is examining the suitability of work at home, telecommuting and entrepreneurship for trainees in rehabilitation. It disseminates information on successful models and experiences, and provides training for the staff of service providers, such as sheltered workshops and employment projects.
The Foundation promotes a variety of employment methods, such us supported employment, Clubhouses (Fountain House models) and social firms. Private associations and the public sector take part in its development programmes, and it runs activities at the international level. It is a member of the Confederation of European Firms, Employment Initiatives, and Co-operatives (CEFEC) and hosted the XII CEFEC Conference in 1999. Short descriptions of the Foundation's main activities can be found in the appendix.
