World Health Day - Mental health is part of health

On the occasion of World Health Day, the importance of a comprehensive approach to health is particularly emphasized, which includes not only physical, but also mental well-being. In this context, the issue of overall health is not possible without mental well-being.

In an interview with systemic and family psychotherapist Arnela Memić, it is emphasized that: "A comprehensive approach to health is important because mental and physical health in children are interconnected and together affect their growth, behavior, sense of security, emotional regulation and overall functioning. When we take care of emotions and the body at the same time, we help the child to develop stably, build self-confidence and cope with challenges more easily."

Given that children in the secondary school period are particularly faced with various developmental challenges, it is very important that there is a systemically ensured psychological support within the school. Despite this, in a significant number of secondary schools in the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton there is no systemically ensured psychological support within the school. As a result, students who face difficulties are often left without timely and adequate professional support in the environment in which they spend most of their day.

World Health Day is an opportunity to remind ourselves that mental health is not an additional component, but the foundation of the overall health and development of young people. Investing in psychological support in schools is not only an educational issue, but also a matter of public interest and long-term well-being of the individual and society. Therefore, the Sensus Psychological Support Center wants to draw attention to the fact that mental health is an integral part of health, which when impaired ultimately affects the physical health of a person. Recognizing this as an important and comprehensive segment of psycho-physical health, Senus is launching a campaign to systematically ensure that secondary schools in the HNK have psychological support. Because we cannot talk about health well-being in a fragmented way, without taking into account the broader picture, that is, mental and physical health.

The statement was created as part of the campaign "Mental Health in Classrooms" implemented by the Sensus Psychological Support Center. This campaign is part of the PRAGG project funded by the Swiss Government, and implemented by a consortium consisting of HELVETAS and NIRAS, in partnership with local partners, the Centers for Civic Initiatives (CCI) and the Institute for Youth Development KULT.