Bridging the Gap in Child Mental Health: The EMBRACE Regional Conference in Iași
In Romania, the reality of children’s mental health is a call to action that we can no longer ignore. Statistics from the World Health Organization and recent local data paint a sobering picture: 1 in 5 children and adolescents lives with a mental health challenge. Perhaps more concerning is that half of these conditions begin before age 14, yet many go undetected for years.
The current system is stretched thin, with a ratio of just one school counselor for every 500 students. This gap between the need for support and the availability of resources is what the EMBRACE CERV Project aims to close.
On May 14th, we are hosting the EMBRACE Regional Conference in Iași, bringing together an ecosystem of over 20 experts to move from “knowing” to “acting.”
A Systemic Response to a Complex Challenge
An effective response to mental health cannot come from a single direction. It requires an integrated approach that connects schools, families, communities, and institutional systems. Our conference is structured around four pillars of expertise:
🔹 Education & Policy: Building the Framework
To change the reality on the ground, we must influence the structures above. We are honored to welcome:
- Luminița Costache & Ramona Pavel (UNICEF Romania): Bringing decades of experience in inclusive education and socio-emotional learning.
- Corina Atanasiu (Member of Parliament): Bridging the gap between policy rigor and on-the-ground realities.
- Genoveva Farcaș (CCD Iași): Providing an authoritative voice on the inner workings of the Romanian education system.
- Laviniu Adrian Lăcustă (USLIP Iași) & Petronela Petrea (Valea Lupului School): Representing the “front line”—the teachers and school leaders who see these challenges daily.
🔹 Research & Innovation: Data-Driven Change
We believe in interventions that are measurable and forward-thinking.
- Prof. Ștefan Cojocaru & Prof. Ciprian Ceobanu (UAIC): Exploring research methodologies and the evolving role of AI in pedagogy.
- Alexandru Holicov (Adservio): Leading the conversation on how digital platforms can better connect the educational ecosystem.
- Irina Vasile (Narada): Focusing on intervention models rooted in rigorous data and impact measurement.
🔹 Public Health & Local Authorities: Community Priority
Mental health is public health.
- Roxana Necula (Deputy Mayor of Iași): Offering a unique perspective on how public administration and academia can co-create solutions.
- Dr. Cristina Dobre (Socola Psychiatric Institute): Promoting mental health as a fundamental public health priority.
- Camelia Tamaș (CJRAE Iași): Detailing the vital role of school counseling at the systemic level.
🔹 Civil Society: The Models of Care
NGOs have long been the pioneers of social innovation in Romania. Joining us to share tested, replicable models are:
- Francesca Nicora & Bogdan Borș (Terre des hommes Romania)
- Simona Pavelescu (AVE) & Nicoleta Călugăreanu (Proacta EDU)
- Mihaela Dimitriu (Save the Children), Cosmina Adriana Bîrsan (World Vision), & Raluca Bejenariu (În Dialog).
Beyond the Numbers
As highlighted recently by Romania Pozitiva, there is a significant rupture between a child’s knowledge of a “healthy lifestyle” and their actual emotional behavior. Factors like excessive screen time, bullying, and a lack of structured socio-emotional education are creating a “perfect storm.”
The EMBRACE Regional Conference isn’t just a meeting of minds; it’s a commitment to building a functional support system where no child’s signal for help goes unnoticed.
Join us this Thursday in Iași. Let’s embrace resilience together.
Funding Agency: EACEA – European Education and Culture Executive Agency
Learn more about EMBRACE: embrace-future.eu
