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Description
The project focuses on the mental health of children and adolescents. We´ll improve preventive services, detection or impacts of mental illness with a focus on the risky behaviour of children as a trigger for mental illness. The aim of the project is the preparation, creation and pilot verification of 3 specific and individually prepared education prevention modules based on evidence-based approaches focused on the prevention of mental illness in children and adolescents according to ICD10 - substance and non-substance addictions (F 10 to F 19, F 63), substance abuse (F 55), eating disorders (F 50) and self-harm, as a symptom assessed across the psychiatric spectrum. We´ll create an interconnected functional communication platform. We´ll identify missing tools for working with the target group (children, adolescents, parents). Create a primary module corresponding to principles and needs, train professionals (implementation of preventive activities, early diagnosis and interventions to minimize the development of additional risks). We identify and train trainers. It´ll ensure the sustainability of prevention activities after project completion. We´ll create modules and pilot implement and verify them (according to the individual needs of communities in 3 different localities in the Czech Republic - in Prague and the Moravian-Silesian Region (Orlová, Havířov districts). We´ll involve professionals who work in the field of education, prevention (general, selective, indicated), diagnostics, medical care. The target group are pedagogical staff, school prevention methodologies, school psychologists, pedagogical-psychological counsellors, paediatricians, general practitioners, nurses, members of the Police of the CZ, police officers of the municipal, curators of OSPOD and social workers. Furthermore, the project focuses on information and awareness campaigns for professionals and the general public.
Summary of project results
The area of prevention of risky behavior of children and adolescents is a fundamental problem in the area of care for their mental health. It is closely connected with the prevention of the emergence and development of mental disorders and behavioral disorders of this target group. This is a very broad area of care, where the key areas are addictions, eating disorders and self-harm. The area of community prevention has been proven to be effective and efficient.
The project targeted professionals who work with children and adolescents in the prevention of risky breeding in the three most problematic localities: Prague 11, Havířov and Orlová. These included: pedagogical workers, school prevention methodologies, school psychologists, workers of pedagogical-psychological counseling centers, the general public, municipal and city police officers, members of the Police of the Czech Republic and healthcare workers. According to the individual professions of the target group, we trained these professionals in individual intervention prevention tools and at the same time project promoter published educational and prevention materials for them, for their application and development of acquired skills, experience and competencies in practice. The main outputs of the project were educational components: INEP 8, 40, TeP, Law, Eating disorders and self-harm, methodological recommendations for the Procedure for the area of addictive substances in schools and educational facilities, a total of 19 printed preventive intervention materials. At the same time, face-to-face educational activities were held, based on which the participants received a certificate for further implementation of prevention, total of 1026 people were trained.
Within the framework of the set goal, project promoter managed to prepare, set up and develop a community prevention system in three selected locations (Prague 11, Orlová and Havířov), which focused on addiction, eating disorders and self-harm in accordance with the diagnostics in ICD 10. The target group of professionals was educated in these three components and thus acquired the skills, knowledge and competences to continue in the set principles of community prevention.
Summary of bilateral results
As part of the project, collaboration was established with the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIHP). This partnership spanned several levels, including the exchange of experiences through individual consultations, participation in key activities (KA 1 – supervision and intervision, KA 2 – supervision, KA 3 – supervision and intervision), preparation of joint presentations for scientific and professional conferences, and involvement in the project''s final conference. Additionally, mutual familiarization with the activities of various workplaces within the project was conducted both in Norway and the Czech Republic.A key benefit of this collaboration was the different perspective offered by Norwegian colleagues on approaches to addressing specific forms of risky behavior, as well as on strategies for professional education. This was particularly evident in the area of self-harm, where educational materials on the topic were utilized (including an extended version covering the issue of suicide among children and adolescents). The expertise and practical experience of professionals from NIHP played a fundamental role, as did the application of Norwegian approaches to these issues.These insights and methods had to be adapted to align with the legal and preventive framework of the Czech Republic. Nevertheless, the value of this contribution was immeasurable.