The Education Committee of the Chamber of Deputies, the Romanian Angel Appeal Foundation, and UNICEF held a conference in Bucharest on December 9, 2025, to present the results of the project “Romania for Every Child. Emotional Balance”, implemented between 2023 and 2025. The event brought together policymakers, experts, NGOs, and children, highlighting a multisectoral approach to improving children’s and adolescents’ mental health. The project aimed to pilot an integrated model in Bucharest linking schools, families, and health services to ensure early identification of emotional difficulties and consistent access to appropriate support.
Pilot interventions demonstrated significant outcomes and potential for national expansion. A total of 475 education professionals received certified training in mental health and social-emotional learning, while over 10,400 students participated in classroom-based social-emotional learning sessions led by trained teachers. More than 3,000 parents attended workshops focused on emotional communication, and an online tool for early detection of social-emotional distress was tested with over 4,000 adolescents. Additionally, a digital application was developed to centralize resources, activities, and support services for young people, and clear protocols were established for collaboration between schools and mental health specialists.
The conference also presented public policy recommendations to improve access to prevention, early detection, and mental health support. One key proposal seeks to allow adolescents aged 16 and older to request psycho-emotional and mental health services independently, without parental consent. This measure aims to increase access while maintaining confidentiality, aligning Romania with EU standards in countries such as the Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, and Finland. Another major recommendation calls for integrating mental health initiatives into the National Health Strategy and the Mental Health Action Plan (2025–2030), including socio-emotional skills education, psychoeducation across all educational stages, annual mental health screenings through family doctors and pediatricians, and parental mental health literacy programs.
Speakers at the event emphasized the importance of treating children’s mental health as a national priority. Alexandru Mihai Ghigiu, Chairman of the Chamber of Deputies’ Education Committee, stressed that these recommendations provide a foundation for translating the project’s vision into legislation and concrete resources. Members of the UNICEF-supported Romanian Children’s Board highlighted that a preventive, supportive system is essential for ensuring the well-being of children and adolescents. UNICEF Romania reinforced the importance of inter-sectoral collaboration in creating accessible and high-quality mental health services nationwide.
Silvia Asandi, General Manager of the Romanian Angel Appeal Foundation, noted that the project confirms the effectiveness of a model connecting schools, families, and health services. She emphasized that children’s mental health should be considered a shared responsibility and that efforts will continue to expand these solutions across Romania to make emotional support widely accessible and integrated into daily life.
