Challenges and perspectives of user-led initiatives in post-conflict and transitional communities : experiences from Bosnia and Herzegovina

Šošić, Bojan (author), Avdibegović, Esmina (author), Tinjić, Nejra (author), Djulović, Vahid (author)

Following the end of the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina (1992–1995), the process of reforming mental health services began, focusing on the development of community mental health centers as the backbone of dein- stitutionalized care for individuals with mental health issues. During this period, several user associations were established with the aim of amplifying the voice of service users in shaping the conditions for their improved status and full participation in society. The aim of this paper was to analyse challenges and perspectives in the development of the user-led organizations and user-led initiatives in Bosnia and Herzegovina as a post-conflict and transitional community. The authors of this paper attempted to answer exactly how and to what extent post-conflict and transitional circumstances provide an opportunity for the development of the user-led initi- atives. In searching for the answer, the case study method of a user-led organization with a twenty-five years experience was used. The findings show that in using opportunities and coping with challenges the key lies in the independence, mutual assistance skills, democratic management of the organization, involvement of all the users in the development and implementation of initiatives, openness to cooperation, inclusion in the social network and willingness to learn and share knowledge.

• Language: English
• Keywords: deinstitutionalisation, stigma, user associations, community mental health
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FSD - Faculty of Social Work
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Publication date: 01.01.2025
• Year: 2025
• Number of pages: Str. 111-131
• Numbering: Letn. 64, št. 1/2
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-173354
• UDC: 364-786.2
• ISSN on article: 0352-7956
• COBISS.SI-ID: 249149187
• Publication date in RUL: 16.09.2025

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Socialno delo
• Shortened title: Soc. delo
• Publisher: Skupnost socialnega varstva Slovenije, Republiški komite za zdravstveno in socialno varstvo, Zveza društev socialnih delavcev Slovenije, Višja šola za socialne delavce, Sekretariat za zdravstvo in socialno varstvo Republike Slovenije, Zveza društev socialnih delavcev Republike Slovenije, Višja šola za socialne delavce, Visoka šola za socialno delo, Fakulteta za socialno delo
• ISSN: 0352-7956
• COBISS.SI-ID: 8900610

Licences

• License: CC BY-SA 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
• Description: This Creative Commons license is very similar to the regular Attribution license, but requires the release of all derivative works under this same license.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Title: Izzivi in perspektive uporabniško vodenih iniciativ v pokonfliktnih in tranzicijskih skupnostih

Abstract

Po koncu vojne v Bosni in Hercegovini (1992–1995) se je začel proces reformiranja služb za duševno zdravje, ki se je osredotočil na razvoj centrov za duševno zdravje v skupnosti kot hrbtenice dezinstitucionalizirane oskrbe za posameznike z duševnimi težavami. V tem obdobju je bilo ustanovljenih več uporabniških združenj, katerih cilj je bil okrepiti glas uporabnikov storitev pri oblikovanju razmer za izboljšanje njihovega položaja in polno sodelovanje v družbi. Cilj članka je analizirati izzive in perspektive pri razvoju uporabniško vodenih organizacij in pobud v Bosni in Hercegovini kot pokonfliktni in tranzicijski skupnosti. Avtorji poskušajo odgovoriti na vprašanji, kako in v kakšnem obsegu pokonfliktne in tranzicijske razmere ponujajo priložnost za razvoj uporabniško vodenih pobud. Pri iskanju odgovora je bila uporabljena metoda študije primera uporabniško vodene organizacije s 25-letnimi izkušnjami. Ugotovitve kažejo, da so ključni pri izkoriščanju priložnosti in spopadanju z izzivi neodvisnost, spretnos- ti medsebojne pomoči, demokratično upravljanje organizacije, vključevanju vseh uporabnikov v razvoj in izvajanje pobud, odprtost za sodelovanje, vključevanje v socialno mrežo ter pripravljenost za učenje in prenos znanja.

• Keywords: duševno zdravje, dezinstitucionaliazacija, stigma, uporabniška združenja, skupnostno duševno zdravje, fotoglas