Psychologists from youth-friendly health centers „Youth Klinic Moldova” improve their professional skills at a training course on cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) taught by two mental health experts from Romania, IPN reports.

During October 7-12, 25 psychologists from our country will master the skill of using CBT to help troubled teenagers and young adults from Moldova deal with problems such as anxiety disorders, depression, risk behaviors like suicide, self-harm, substance use, eating disorders, and more.

“This highly valuable training course will increase the efficiency of the adolescent- psychologist interaction, during the counseling sessions, which are free and confidential for every Moldovan adolescent between the ages of 10 to 24 years old.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy allows psychologists to effectively address issues related to stressful or violent situations in adolescents, to improve the quality of the support given to them in the most difficult moments of their life,” says Galina Leșco, the coordinator of the “Healthy Generation” project, which made this activity possible.

The training courses coincide with the celebration, on October 10, of the World Mental Health Day. At the initiative of the World Health Organization, in 2019, this day is dedicated to young people and mental health issues in a constantly changing world. According to WHO data, half of the mental disorders start at 14 years old. Depression is one of the top 3 health problems that affect adolescents worldwide. Globally, suicide is the second leading cause of death for people between the ages of 15 and 29.

Adolescents in Moldova who are experiencing emotional distress can ask the help of psychologists at the youth-friendly health centers "Youth Klinic Moldova" network or of mental health specialists from other institutions.

All 41 of the YKK centers are operate on the premises of district and municipal polyclinics. The services are multidisciplinary and are offered confidentially and for free.

The training of the specialists from the youth-friendly health centers is carried out within the "Healthy Generation" project, implemented by the Association "Health for young people", in partnership with the Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Protection, with the support of the Swiss Cooperation and Development Agency (SDC).