Programs that will promote tolerance towards people with mental health problems will be broadcast on local and national TV and radio stations within a campaign throughout the month of May. The campaign entitled “Let’s stay close to people with mental health problems” was launched by the Balti-based Association SOMATO, Info-Prim Neo reports. According to a communique from the NGO, the Association aims at raising awareness of general public, especially from Chisinau, Balti, Rezina and Ungheni districts, with regard to accepting and providing equal opportunities for community living for people with mental disorders. Mental health specialists will participate in TV programs to discuss the everyday problems faced by mentally disabled people. Newspapers in Chisinau, Balti, Rezina and Ungheni will publish articles on mental health issues. In these districts and towns there will be organized roundtable meetings, where mental health specialists, representatives of local authorities and civil society will discuss ways of improving the situation of people with mental health problems. The campaign is organized by the Association SOMATO in partnership with the Ministry of Health within the project “Development of the system of community-based mental health services in the Republic of Moldova (phase II)”, with financial support from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. According to official statistics, 20% of the about 100,000 mentally disabled people in Moldova are children. 68% of the respondents of a poll commissioned by Soros Foundation Moldova said the persons suffering from mental illnesses are most often discriminated in the country.