WORKPLACE MENTAL HEALTH PROMOTION IN ROMANIA ELENA-ANA PĂUNCU TIMIŞOARA UNIVERSITY OF MEDICINE AND PHARMACY ”VICTOR BABEŞ” ROMANIA Bled, Slovenia, 28 August

OUTLINE OF THE PRESENTATION  Mental Health in Romania  Romanian legislation  OH Specialty Curriculum in Romania – Mental Health  WHP projects in Romania  Workplace Mental Health Promotion  Conclusions 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  Law no. 418 / 2004 regarding specific professional status of occupational medicine physician  Framework Directive implemented since 2006 (SH Law)  Workplace health promotion – part of the workers health surveillance – since 2007 (Govern Decision)  Mental Health Law – adopted in 2002 and its methodological norms – elaborate in 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  Specialty Curriculum – 2007 (last upgrade)  4 years, different stages, disciplines  Log-book, stage-end evaluation, final exam  Occupational psychology – one month, first year of OH residency  Professional mental aspects – two weeks in the second year of residency  Psychiatric stage – two weeks in the third year of residency  No WHP training 5

WHP PROJECTS IN ROMANIA (1)  Two parallel projects in 2 regions (Center and Western Region)  2 years ( )  Conducted – ROMTENS Foundation in partnerships with ENWHP members  The aim of the transfer was to implement WHP (including MHP) activities in as many as possible enterprises in two Romanian development Regions 6

WHP PROJECTS IN ROMANIA (2) 7

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 employees concerning WHP;  Increasing the number of SMEs (120) that framed and implemented WHP Policies. 8

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. 9

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): flyers, posters;  Each region: ~ 480 sessions and ~ employees. 10

THE THEMES CHOSEN FOR INFORMATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS FOR EMPLOYEES OF ENTERPRISES IN WEST REGION 11

WORKPLACE MENTAL HEALTH PROMOTION  No specific, systematic activities in this area (including the WHO baseline project).  WHP Program in region Center and West  Doctoral 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. 12

CONCLUSIONS  The beginning was done  But…  There are a lot of things to do.  There is possible to initiate a WHP project focused on Mental Health in Romania / EU states  Mental health promotion can and must be made at the workplace.  OH physician is an important partner in the enterprise whose education and activity must be focused on prevention and health promotion in the next years. 13

BIBLIOGRAPHY  Haratau T, Haratau M, Bratu E, Stoia M, Bardac D, Pauncu E (2010), Mental Health as a promoter of well-being at work, 12 th February, Helsinki, “Towards Better Work and Well-being”  Haratau M (2012) “Occupational Health Research into the Mental Health Promotion at Work” (Doctoral Thesis, Sibiu University “Lucian Blaga”, Faculty of Medicine “Victor Papilian”)  Eurostat  WHO Europe (2005): Highlight on Health in Romania  WHO Europe (2006): Health Questions About the New EU Neighbours 14