WORKPLACE MENTAL HEALTH PROMOTION

IN ROMANIA

ELENA-ANA PĂUNCU

TIMIŞOARA UNIVERSITY OF MEDICINE AND PHARMACY

”VICTOR BABEŞ” ROMANIA

EASOM SUMMER SCHOOL 2015 – TEACHING PSYCHOSOCIAL RISK FACTORS AT WORK

Bled, Slovenia, 28 August 2015

1

OUTLINE OF THE PRESENTATION

M

ental Health in Romania

R

omanian legislation

O

H Specialty Curriculum in Romania – Mental Health

W

HP projects in Romania

W

orkplace Mental Health Promotion

C

onclusions

2

MENTAL HEALTH IN ROMANIA

Suicide rates are slightly above the EU27 average, (12.8 per 100,000)

(Eurostat).

It is estimated that there are approximately 1018 new cases of mental

disorders per 100,000 per year in Romania and about 1% of the population

suffer from mental disorders

In 2003 there were 166,594 people, of which 28,895 children, registered with

various forms of mental disorders. 8.6 % of those were living in institutions.

Children’s Mental Health: Romania is confronted with a new situation namely

the mental health problems of children whose families are working abroad.

3

ROMANIAN LEGISLATION

L

aw no. 418 / 2004 regarding specific professional status of occupational

medicine physician

F

ramework Directive implemented since 2006 (SH Law)

W

orkplace health promotion – part of the workers health surveillance – since

2007 (Govern Decision)

M

ental Health Law – adopted in 2002 and its methodological norms – elaborate

in 2005. Ministry of Health has launched a Mental Health Strategy and

National Program for Mental Health within the recent years.

4

OH SPECIALTY CURRICULUM IN ROMANIA – MENTAL HEALTH

S

pecialty Curriculum – 2007 (last upgrade)

4

years, different stages, disciplines

L

og-book, stage-end evaluation, final exam

O

ccupational psychology – one month, first year of OH residency

P

rofessional mental aspects – two weeks in the second year of residency

P

sychiatric stage – two weeks in the third year of residency

No WHP training

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WHP PROJECTS IN ROMANIA (1)

T

wo parallel projects in 2 regions (Center and Western Region)

2

years (2009-2010)

C

onducted – ROMTENS Foundation in partnerships with ENWHP members

T

he aim of the transfer was to implement WHP (including MHP) activities in

as many as possible enterprises in two Romanian development Regions

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WHP PROJECTS IN ROMANIA (2)

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WHP PROJECTS IN ROMANIA (3)

OBJECTIVES (for each region):

Training of 12 WHP local experts

Training 120 OSH managers, Human Resources and

General managers (in what regards WHP);

Increasing the information level of 12.000

employees concerning WHP;

Increasing the number of SMEs (120) that framed

and implemented WHP Policies.

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WHP PROJECTS IN ROMANIA (4)

TRAINING FOR HR & OSH MANAGERS

Courses - county level (groups of 20 managers, total 120 at

regional level);

136 hours Training Course (56 theory, 80 practical - project);

Lecturers (trained OH and Health Promotion experts);

Approached fields :• OHS (medical check-ups, risk assessment, OSH management);• WHP (mental health - stress);• Development and implementation of OSH/WHP policy;• Conflict and time management.

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WHP PROJECTS IN ROMANIA (5)

INFORMATION & EDUCATION CAMPAIGN

Each company 2-3 topics, for each topic sessions (for

1 topic, 1,5 hours, interactive, evaluated);

Topics which resulted from the Needs Assessment

and agreed with the managers of the enterprises;

Materials (each region): 12.000 flyers, 1.500 posters;

Each region: ~ 480 sessions and ~ 12.000 employees.

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THE THEMES CHOSEN FOR INFORMATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS FOR EMPLOYEES OF

ENTERPRISES IN WEST REGION

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WORKPLACE MENTALHEALTH PROMOTION

N

o specific, systematic activities in this area (including the WHO baseline

project).

W

HP Program in region Center and West

D

octoral Thesis (2012) in Sibiu Medical Faculty:

“

Occupational Health Research into the Mental Health Promotion at Work” (Dr.

Mihaela Haratau, coordinator – Prof. Dr. Dorin Iosif Bardac) - Purpose – to look into

the professional causes that might influence mental health (stress and organic

solvents) and to prove that the workplace could be an appropriate environment for

MHP.

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CONCLUSIONS

T

he beginning was done

B

ut…

T

here are a lot of things to do.

T

here is possible to initiate a WHP project focused on Mental Health in Romania / EU states

M

ental health promotion can and must be made at the workplace.

O

H physician is an important partner in the enterprise whose education and activity must be

focused on prevention and health promotion in the next years.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

H

aratau T, Haratau M, Bratu E, Stoia M, Bardac D, Pauncu E (2010), Mental Health as a

promoter of well-being at work, 12th February, Helsinki, “Towards Better Work and Well-

being”

H

aratau M (2012) “Occupational Health Research into the Mental Health Promotion at Work”

(Doctoral Thesis, Sibiu University “Lucian Blaga”, Faculty of Medicine “Victor Papilian”)

E

urostat

W

HO Europe (2005): Highlight on Health in Romania

W

HO Europe (2006): Health Questions About the New EU Neighbours

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