Psychological and Legal support for People Suffering from Multiple Sclerosis

The Association for Multiple Sclerosis Montenegro reports that there are 540 individuals with multiple sclerosis in our country, out of which one-third are employable but lack the opportunity to access part-time employment. Therefore, the goal of the project Psychological and Legal Support for People suffering from Multiple Sclerosis, carried out by this Association, is to improve the quality of life for individuals with multiple sclerosis through free legal and psychological counselling.

On 29 June 2023, we submitted a set of proposals to amend and supplement the Regulations on Medical Indications for Entitlement to Material Provision, Care and Assistance Allowance, Personal Disability Benefit, and Compensation for Part-time Work. We addressed these proposals to all members of the Committee for Health, Labour, and Social Welfare, as well as to the Minister of Labor and Social Welfare. Our request is to lower the required EDSS level (degree of physical disability) in Article 3, paragraph 9 – which is necessary to qualify for care and assistance allowance – to 5 (instead of 6.5), thus facilitating access to care and assistance for individuals with multiple sclerosis. Additionally, we aim to include multiple sclerosis as a medical indication for entitlement to compensation for part-time work in the mentioned Regulations,” stated Prof. Dr. Andrijana Nikolić, President of the Association for Multiple Sclerosis Montenegro.

Anđela Šćekić Todorović, a qualified psychologist and gestalt therapist, presented the results of the psychological workshops conducted with individuals affected by multiple sclerosis.

Nine workshops covered all relevant topics which were determined in collaboration with the attendees at the beginning. She also shared the results of the survey conducted among the participants, showing that individuals living with multiple sclerosis expressed the desire for more extensive psychological support, not only for themselves but also for their family members, as multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease with an unpredictable course. Thanks to an anonymous donation, the Association will continue conducting psychological workshops and providing individual support to patients even after the project concludes.

Through this project, Marija Mrvaljević, a legal representative responsible for providing legal assistance to individuals with multiple sclerosis, stated that many of those living with this condition are often unaware of their rights and rarely seek the appropriate channels for their protection. During the project, the Association received 16 requests, each with an average of five to six follow-up questions and/or legal assistance requirements, mostly related to accessing different types of rights. Some of these requests are expected to have legal outcomes.

“For every right you have as an individual with multiple sclerosis, the first instance to approach is the Social Welfare Centre. The required documentation can be found on websites of all institutions. Only after exhausting all available options provided by the law, an individual can seek legal protection,” said Marija Mrvaljević.

She emphasised that individuals with multiple sclerosis rarely seek free legal assistance, despite it being an option available through the Basic Court, which could grant most of their rights.

The project Psychological and Legal Support for People suffering from Multiple Sclerosis is supported through the Supported=Empowered programme, implemented by the Fund for Active Citizenship ─ FAKT, in partnership with the Community Development Foundation “Slagalica” from Croatia. The programme is funded by the European Union, with co-financing from the Ministry of Public Administration.