Description
In Romania, 63% of children are abused in their families by their parents, as a disciplinary measure. Most of the children that are raised using corporal punishment and other forms of emotional abuse are at risk of developing mental health difficulties. The project is implemented in Bucharest, Iasi, Suceava, Targu Mures and Timisoara and responds to the need of developing integrated services specifically addressed to children with mental disorders, child victims of violence and their families. The objectives of the project are: 1. to train 200 specialists in the fields of mental health and domestic violence against children; 2. provide therapy and psycho-pedagogical intervention services in the education environment for 700 children and teenagers with mental health disorders and child victims of domestic violence, and parental education and psycho-education sessions for 700 parents in 6 counselling centers. The project is implemented in partnership with national/local authorities in the fields of child protection, education and health.
Summary of project results
In Romania, child community mental health services are poorly developed in 28 counties and completely lack in other 15 counties, the only specialised medical cared being available in psychiatric hospitals. Beyond the lack of integrated social, pedagogical, psychological, and health services, the situation of child mental health personnel in Romania remain a sensitive one: only 200 psychologists and less than 120 psychiatrists are active in the public mental health system. According to Save the Children Romania and the estimate of World Health Organisation, more than 760.000 Romanian children develop a mental health disorder before they turn 18. Untreated, these disorders will severely affect child’s development and their chance to a good life quality. Also, children with emotional and behavioural challenges face a 3 time higher risk for becoming victims of abuse and neglect. This happens in a country where 63% of children report being hit at home by their parents. 1 in 8 children raised in a violent family environment will become eligible for a psychiatric diagnostic, following the abuse. In this context, Save the Children Romania, together with the National Authority for Child Rights Protection and Adoption and The Municipal Centre for Psycho-Pedagogical Assistance, implemented the project developing counselling services for children and parents in Bucharest, Iași, Suceava, Mures and Timis counties. A number of 255 specialists (child protection, education and health) were trained on assessment and intervention in cases of children with mental health disorders and child victims of domestic violence. Within 6 centres, multidisciplinary teams of professionals (psychologist / psychotherapist, psychiatrist, psycho-pedagogue) have provided services to 828 children and adolescents with mental health problems and victims of domestic violence and to 840 parents: clinical, psychiatric, psychological and psycho-pedagogical evaluation; advice and individual psychotherapy for children and adolescents; parental counselling services and education programs. 700 children and parents evaluated the services and made recommendations for improvement (extension of the programme to allow parents to come after work; intensifying activities within kindergartens/schools, considering the increasing number of children facing difficulties to adapt, as well as limited teachers’ skills to work with children that have emotional/behavioural vulnerability).
Summary of bilateral results