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Description
Lithuania has one of the highest suicide rates in the world. As more than 50% of people who commit suicide struggle with depression. Mental health care professionals are difficult to access and quite expensive for the Lithuanians. It is difficult to recruit mental healthcare specialists willing to work in provincial municipalities.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is well developed in countries such as the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Norway. CBT has been thoroughly tested and shown to be as effective as antidepressants. This therapy is highly standardized, using specific methods for specific problem solving. Numerous meta-analyzes have demonstrated the cost-effectiveness of this therapy. Many countries have begun training not only psychologists or psychiatrists, but also nurses, social workers, and other professionals to provide short, cost-effective, evidence-based, standardized advice from CBTs to address the lack of human resources and over-prescribing of drugs.
Their purpose is to help people cope with the very first symptoms of depression and anxiety.
What will be done while implementing the project?
The project aims to develop a training programme and train at least 30 highly motivated specialists to provide short, evidence-based, standardized consultations for people on how to deal with the first symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Target group that will benefit from the project: Lithuanians who are experiencing the first anxiety, depression syndromes and do not seek medical help.