Let’s bring Mental Health to Schools!

In Romania, many teenagers struggle with mental health conditions, which, according to WHO, begin to appear on average around the age of 14. However, mental health as a topic is still taboo in Romanian schools, and students receive close to zero formal education on it. As a result, many students suffer in silence and do not receive support from their peers or specialised help when it is most needed.

To start changing things, in the autumn of 2021 we launched the “Let’s Bring Mental Health to Schools” project, through which Mental Health for Romania volunteers run mental health workshops in high schools across the country. The workshops, designed by researchers and clinicians in the fields of psychology and psychiatry, teach students how to identify the most common mental health problems and disorders, self-help and emotional regulation strategies, methods and resources for seeking professional help, and how they can support those close to them.

We reached 5087 students from

64 schools across Romania

Number of workshops held in each county

Student feedback

The workshop not only raises awareness of different types of mental health disorders and their symptoms, but also encourages students to seek help when they are experiencing psychological difficulties. I enjoyed the whole project, and it dispelled a few myths I believed about mental health.

Alexandru

In my opinion, this project can help young people become aware of the seriousness of mental health issues, whilst also reducing bullying and removing the shame of help-seeking.

Maria

The workshop helped me better understand how to manage my stress and emotions. I learned practical things that I can use every day. It was a useful and enjoyable experience that could help any student feel more balanced and confident.

Sofia

This presentation was very useful, and I would recommend that teachers bring the project to their schools, as it is a very important topic that is, fortunately, becoming better known and helping us to better understand what others are going through.

Irina

The workshop is extremely useful, given that this topic is often avoided in many social groups. The information was of good quality, and I think it helped all of us. Hopefully, the teachers who attended this presentation will also feel more comfortable engaging in these kinds of conversations, without feeling insecure or uncomfortable.

Eva

The presentation made me realise that I was experiencing some things I hadn’t been aware of, and I think it would be good for parents to see this presentation too. It would help them understand that some things may be more serious than they realise.

Matei