Description
In Estonia, more and more children and young people are suffering from mental health problems. Sometimes used as an indicator for overall mental health, suicide rates – though falling – are still some way above the EU average. Currently no joined up service for children with severe mental health problems exists in Estonia – this deficit is highlighted in many national strategies and development plans. The objective of the project is to improve the quality of mental health services, in line with national priorities. The project will develop the concept and operating guidelines of an integrated social, educational and health service aiming to benefit 75 children). This will increase the provision of mental health services for children and improve the quality and coordination of health services providers. Guidelines for the service will be established and training provided for health and social welfare service staff. A survey will be carried out as part of the project to measure the effectiveness of the service. The project will benefit children with severe mental health problems and professionals working with these children.
Summary of project results
Estonia lacks specific long-term interventions or services for children who have severe mental health disorders and who would need more complex approach. Therefore the project objective was to define the target group and design a new complex service which could help these children in the best possible way. The project started with developing the concept and guidelines of an integrated social, educational and health service by the expert group and then the services were piloted. The project consisted of two target groups which needed long-term treatment. One group was children and adolescents in age 12-17 who have a normal intellect but due to their mental disorder are unable to cope with the regular school system and daily activities. The second group was children and adolescents with mental disorders who have been identified with a court ruling as requiring 24-hour special care and long-term service. In the first target group in total 68 children got needful services by the service providers in South of Estonia (Tartu Herbert Masingu municipal school and Maarjamaa special school). In the second target group in total 12 children got needful services by the special care service provider Imastu school home. Training programme for service providers was provided, incl. modules like team work, managing children´s aggressive behaviour and how do improve collaboration between school and parent. Besides trainings individual and goup supervision was provided to service providers. Also trainings were provided for child welfare specialists. Rehabilitation service programmes were conducted to make the service description more complex for both target groups. Guidelines with evaluation forms will be used by the service providers in the future as well. Moreover a survey carried out to measure the effectiveness of the service concluded that every child’s condition approved evaluated by the team, the child and the child’s parents or legal representative. Even though the project didn´t had an official Norwegian partner, a study tour was organized for visiting similar services in Norway and also Norwegian experts were invited to the conferences that were held during the project period. These inputs were highly valuable for developing the concept of the new integrated service. The pilot resulted that the services will be financed through the rehabilitation and special care state budget according to the limit under the social welfare law.
Summary of bilateral results