"Unity in Care" Advancing Mental Health Support Systems for Vulnerable Children and Youth

Vulnerable children and youth are exposed to a higher incidence of mental health (MH) distress because of the adverse experiences they might have faced, as evidenced by the situation analysis conducted in Romania, Greece, Albania and Kosovo. Yet, public health systems are too often ill-equipped, both in terms of capacities and resources, to meet these needs. Hence, the Unity in Care: Advancing Mental Health Support Systems for Vulnerable Children and Youth project proposes universal and indicated preventative mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) measures to be delivered by MH and non-MH professionals, including local NGOs/CBOs aiming to strengthen the resilience of vulnerable children and youth.

The project is designed taking into account the IASC MHPSS pyramid and aims to equip MH and non-MH professionals with prevention methodologies. This will result in interventions being more accessible, less expensive, and more integrated within the current life circumstances of vulnerable children and youth, at the same time reducing the burden on MH specialized institutions.

The project will adapt, contextualize, and implement the Movement, Games, Sports and Creativity (MGSC), the Move On & Engage, I-support My Friends methodologies interventions to support particularly vulnerable populations in the targeted countries. This will provide the basis to collect and disseminate best practices, knowledge, and training materials through the establishment of Technical Working Groups and measuring the impact through most Significant Change Stories using the European Child Protection Hub platform.

One International Child & Youth Advisory Board (CAB) and four national CABs will be established as a tested mechanism to ensure meaningful collective participation. The project aims to conduct 12 trainings and train at least 216 MH and Non-MH professionals, to reach 1,300 beneficiaries, and animate Technical Working Groups to support everyone who is promoting the mental health and psychosocial wellbeing of vulnerable children and youth.

THE CHALLENGE

Unity in Care Vulnerable children and youth face higher rates of mental health distress due to adverse experiences, while public health systems often lack the necessary capacities and resources to address these needs.

OUR APPROACH

The Unity in Care project provides preventative mental health support through professionals and non-specialists alike, including local organizations. Child participation is central, with Child Advisory Boards established at country and project levels to ensure meaningful engagement and empowerment.

KEY METHODOLOGIES