THE Community Recovery Outreach Programme (CROP) is calling for financial support to assist its work in assisting mental illness survivors fit back well in their communities.
CROP co-ordinator and cccupational therapist Nelleke Jonker said they had to work within bureaucratic settings.
"Basically, we have no building, no staff and no money," said Ms Jonker, adding their budget came under that of St Giles Hospital.
"For the building, it is owned by the Ministry of Health and the Fiji Medical Association is the guardian of this place," she said.
"We are just here on a temporary basis."
She said all staff also came under the St Giles Hospital staff allocation.
"The shortage of staff is one of the main obstacles of the group," she said.
"We need a sponsor. We need somebody to take over the program."
Mental health nurse Christine Erasito said people had different attitudes towards mental illness patients.
"The mind-sets of people need to be changed because the way people view mental illness affects the way people see them every day," said Ms Erasito.
CROP empowers these people and creates awareness for them.
"This is to make sure people with mental illness are not hopeless.
"There might be disability, there might be impairment but they would like to be part of society.
"They want to be part of their family and their country."
She said from workshops and surveys taken, they found that people with mental health problems basically had nothing to do at home and did not involve themselves in social activities.
"They are basically being told to stay home and watch TV and don't do anything," she said.
"We told them to interact with other people and have social relationship.
"From that we started the community outreach program."