Pompidou Group continues to enhance knowledge on the pressing issues of mental health among various specialists (educators, psychologists and social workers) working with vulnerable children and adolescents.

On 1-3 July, the Pompidou Group delivered training on the pressing issues of mental health for social workers and educators working at orphanages and child shelters of Tbilisi and Eastern Georgia. The training covered a range of issues such as the five-point index for assessing mental health, working in a multidisciplinary group, the role and the tasks of each team members, as well as stigma around mental health, motivational interviewing, de-escalation, the effect of negative childhood experience, effective communication with parents and family, self-harm and its management, professional burnout and prevention of the secondary traumatisation. Through specific case examples, the training also addressed how to recognise and detect when the mental health issues are caused by substance use or other type of dependencies (e.g. alcohol) – specific recommendations were shared by consultants.

The three-day event followed an interactive format including group exercises and supervision sessions, through discussing peer to peer practices and professional cases. In addition, specialists received comprehensive feedback from the experts on their daily work.

As a result of the training, social workers and educators improved their understanding, awareness and knowledge on the pressing issues of mental health and its practical nuances. According to them, this was the first comprehensive training on mental health issues that enabled them to improve their techniques and methodology in dealing with children and parents in daily work.

The training was organised in the framework of the Project ’’Strengthening the Role of Key Actors in Drug Prevention’’ implemented by Pompidou Group under the  2024-2027 Council of Europe Action Plan for Georgia.