Creating a Functional Intervention Model for Mental Health and Psychological Support for Children and Adolescents (MHPSS)
Context
In the last decade, mental health problems have increased globally and become much more visible.
According to the World Health Organization, approximately 15% of children and adolescents have mental health issues, with most disorders starting around age 14, many remaining undiagnosed and untreated.
Depression, anxiety, and behavioral disorders are among the leading causes of illness and disability among adolescents.
The mental health of children and adolescents in Romania is significantly more affected compared to children in other countries.
Nearly 33% of Romanian adolescents aged 11 to 15 reported feeling sad multiple times a week, compared to 13% on average in the 45 countries included in a World Health Organization study.
In this context, UNICEF in Romania, in partnership with the Romanian Angel Appeal Foundation, is implementing the pilot project “Creating a Functional Model of Mental Health and Psychological Support for Children and Adolescents – MHPSS” which will have an integrated approach involving the education system, the health system, and the social assistance system.
Aims
The project aims to:
- Promote mental health of children and adolescents and support early detection of psycho-affective difficulties.
- Increase awareness and demand for mental health and well-being information among adolescents.
- Provide information and psycho-education sessions to parents/caregivers of adolescents.
- Develop a referral system for psychosocial support services for adolescents facing psycho-affective challenges.
- Strengthen the public system and facilitate public-private partnerships to maintain and develop existing psychosocial services for vulnerable adolescents.
- Develop and test digital innovations to increase access to information, health education, and support services.
- Create a functional, sustainable model that can be replicated nationwide.
Implementation period: July 2023 – March 2025
Geographical coverage: Bucharest
Target groups:
- 5,000 Romanian and Ukrainian children and adolescents (10-18 years old)
- 10,000 Romanian and Ukrainian parents/guardians
- 400 education and health specialists (teachers, school counselors, school doctors, family doctors, community health nurses)
Activities
- Formative research on needs and resources in the field of mental health and psychosocial support for children and adolescents
- Development of a set of tools for early identification of signs indicating psycho-affective health problems among adolescents (Romanian – Ukrainian)
- Development and adaptation of non-formal competency development modules for teachers to be used with adolescents in schools and other community settings (Romanian/Ukrainian)
- Development and piloting of support modules for parents and caregivers, focusing on preventing mental and emotional health problems among adolescents
- Development of a referral system for treating and caring for mental health problems dedicated to adolescents in the Municipality of Bucharest
- Adaptation and testing of digital tools and platforms to improve access and quality of services in line with UNICEF’s strategy on child and adolescent mental health
- Delivery of modules to stimulate psycho-emotional well-being and prevent mental health problems through formal and non-formal activities addressed to adolescents (both residents and refugees)
- Delivery of support modules for parents/guardians/caregivers through dedicated events: workshops, conferences, TV shows
- Development of modules for specialists and delivery of training for teachers, school counselors, family doctors, community health assistants, and training them on using early detection tools
Targets and Results
- A map of existing partners and service providers (public and private) involved or with the potential to be involved in addressing mental health issues for resident and refugee adolescents.
- A set of bilingual tools (Romanian/Ukrainian) to be used for signaling and early detection of potential mental health problems among Romanian and Ukrainian adolescents.
- Non-formal psycho-educational modules, to be used in formal and non-formal interactions with adolescents (Romanian/Ukrainian), involving/consulting adolescents in developing these modules.
- 400 education and health professionals informed/trained in using the screening tool and non-formal psycho-educational modules.
- 5000 adolescents (both residents and refugees) following the psycho-educational modules.
- A referral system for mental health care and psychosocial support for adolescents in Bucharest.
- Access to training and capacity building for secondary and tertiary health service providers, focusing on adolescent mental health, conducted through ASSMB.
- Development and testing of digital technologies and applications to improve access and quality of services in line with UNICEF’s regional and global mental health strategy.
- Documentation of developed practices and evaluation of results.
- Development of policy recommendations, practices, and advocacy to improve mental health services for adolescents.
