Mental health, national priority: Ministry of Health announces expansion of programs for children and youth

The prevalence of mental disorders is increasing in Romania, and their social and economic effects are "major”, warned Stela Firu, Secretary of State in the Ministry of Health, during the event "Together for Mental Health: Vision and Perspectives”. The official stressed that mental health can no longer be treated as a secondary area in public health policies: "Mental health is the foundation of each of our lives. The prevalence of mental disorders is increasing, and their social and economic impact is major.” The statement comes in the context in which Romania is faced with limited access to specialized services, insufficient human resources and a high degree of stigmatization, especially among children and adolescents.

Stela Firu drew attention to the fact that the reluctance of young people to seek specialized support remains a significant obstacle: "There are many adolescents and young people who are afraid to ask for help.” The Secretary of State emphasized that stigma deeply affects society's ability to identify and treat psychological problems early, and the Ministry of Health aims to increase emotional literacy at the national level.

• Expansion of programs in schools: over 2,000 teachers trained

The Ministry of Health, through the National Center for Mental Health and Drug Control, is expanding interventions in the educational environment. Currently: there are partnerships with 29 schools, personalized addiction prevention programs are being implemented, approximately 2,000 teachers and school counselors have been trained in managing students with specific educational needs. A new program financed by the Swiss Financial Mechanism will allow the training of 600 more teachers, school psychologists and educators, with the objective of developing skills to promote mental health in communities. An important progress announced by Stela Firu is the expansion of the network of services for minors: 21 mental health centers for children are operating, 13 more centers are to be developed, with funding secured. These centers offer specialized services, psychological assessments and therapeutic interventions adapted to the needs of children.

The updates to the Mental Health Action Plan will reach the Government by the end of the month. The document includes measures to reduce stigma, prevention interventions and protocols for the early identification of mental problems. Stela Firu detailed some of the strategic directions: training of education and health specialists, including family doctors, developing communication skills with children and parents, facilitating access to diagnostic and early intervention services.

The World Health Organization estimates that, globally, mental illnesses are among the leading causes of disability and economic costs. Romania is facing: a shortage of child and adolescent psychiatrists, long waiting lists, lack of community services in many counties, and limited infrastructure for prevention in schools. In this context, the expansion of programs and specialized centers is a necessary step, but insufficient to cover the growing needs.