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Description
The project will be implemented by the Zruč nad Sázavou primary school in Kutná Hora, a municipality with extended jurisdiction (MEJ), where there are 25 nursery schools, 19 primary schools, and 5 high schools with a total of 707 teachers, attended by ca 7 thousand children and adolescents in total.
The project aims to support the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents in the area of the Kutná Hora MEJ, improve access to relevant local services. etc. It involves the CREATION AND 2 YEARS OF ACTIVITY BY A CHILDREN’S AND ADOLESCENTS’ MENTAL HEALTH TEAM (MHT) – a model that fully corresponds to the Czech Republic’s psychiatric care reform strategy. The MHT will primarily work in the area of prevention, education and to support the de-stigmatization of mental illness.
The project has FIVE ACTIVITIES WITH SYNERGISTIC EFFECT:
- Creation of an MHT in the Kutná Hora MEJ, creation of support facilities for its activities
- 2 years of pilot activities of the MHT in the Kutná Hora MEJ (2 sub-teams)
- Transfer and establishment of a Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics to the Czech Republic
- Education for teachers at the 2nd stage of elementary school and high school in the Kutná Hora MEJ: an accredited two-day course with follow-up consultations
- 2 de-stigmatization campaigns, Mental Health Weeks for the general public, 2 symposia for professionals
The partner is the Ostbytunet Center for Treatment and Professional Development in Child Psychiatry (Oslo, Norway), which operates a psychiatric facility for children and youth that combines a clinic, school, and daycare. Cooperation will involve the transfer and establishment of a Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics, with which the Norwegian partner has many years of experience, to the Czech Republic.
Additional partners: The Kamenná Stezka Primary School in Kutná Hora and the Pedagogical and Psychological Counselling Centre of the Central Bohemian Region, Kutná Hora branch.
Summary of project results
The project addressed a lack of mental health care for children in the region, exacerbated by a rising number of kids facing mental health challenges, amplified by the Covid-19 pandemic. Initial skepticism from the target groups was gradually overcome. Challenges arose from Covid-19 measures and the Ukraine war.
The first activity involved forming a team and setting up facilities, a prerequisite for subsequent actions. Two multidisciplinary expert teams focused on direct client work, providing specialized intervention and therapeutic activities for target groups. Simultaneously, experts underwent training in the Neurosequential Model, crucial not only for client work but also for adapting the model to the Czech context. We conducted educational sessions for educators and individuals
influencing children''s mental well-being. Additionally, several public awareness events were organized as a vital part of prevention. Actively engaging in networking, we contributed to creating an efficient support network in the region. Public relations efforts informed and showcased project activities beyond the region, promoting transferability and sustainability. These activities ensured the comprehensiveness of the pilot phase.
The main achievement was bolstering prevention and stabilizing children''s mental health by forming multidisciplinary teams and implementing the Neurosequential Model. This resulted in enhanced competencies of key influencers (710 individuals), direct client support (595 individuals) through
5,418 interventions, and improved collaboration among relevant entities. A concrete output was the development of a methodological and educational presentation document for professionals.
The project''s importance lies in piloting a mental health support model based on multidisciplinarity and the Neurosequential Model. It offers an effective approach to prevent mental disorders in children, aligning with the Health program''s goals. Beyond positively impacting the region''s target groups, it provides inspiration and methodology for other areas. Pilot results have sparked interest and discussions among key political entities, such as the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports.
Summary of bilateral results
The main result of the cooperation was the transfer of the Neurosequential diagnostic-intervention approach model to the conditions of the Czech Republic through the training of TDZ experts in the form of consultations and seminars. Experts use the acquired knowledge in daily client work. Cooperation was in this respect for experts very important. An important point of partnership cooperation was the visit of 17 experts from of the Czech Republic in a partner facility in Norway. Good practice was shared during this stay.Representatives of partner organizations participated in two professional symposia in the Czech Republic, where they had presentation on mental health. Mutual cooperation with partners from Norway took place without problem and was an important part of the pilot operation of the mental health team.