The results of a survey conducted by the Public Health Bureau of Klaipėda District Municipality show that 18.6 percent of the survey participants (residents of Klaipėda District Municipality) felt slightly/much more depressed and anxious in the past month than before. 45 percent of the survey participants rated their health condition as good, and 61 percent felt happy. Studies show that in case of first signs of such problems psychological help is more effective and has a more sustainable/long-lasting effect than the use of medications.
Aiming to solve the problem and improve the situation in Klaipėda District, the contract for the implementation of the Ensuring Availability of Mental Health Services at Klaipėda District Municipality project was signed between the Klaipėda District Municipality Administration and the public institution Central Project Management Agency on 15 February 2022. The project is funded from the European Economic Area and Norwegian Financial Mechanisms for the 2014-2021 period.
In the implementation of the project, the Public Health Bureau of Klaipėda District Municipality becomes the coordination centre for the provision of services of welfare consultants.
Our goal is to create conditions for the provision of mental health services in Klaipėda District Municipality and to ensure accessibility of such services.
We aim to encourage Klaipėda District Municipality residents to seek help when facing emotional difficulties, and to provide them with evidence-based, accessible and responsive low-intensity emotional counselling services, providing information on how to deal with the first signs of depression and anxiety.
To achieve the goal and solve the existing problems, the premises for the provision of the services of welfare consultants will be installed in Priekulė and Gargždai in the course of the project. The project will develop a service where two welfare consultants will provide evidence-based low-intensity emotional counselling that will improve health of individuals and create a basis for preventing the potential deterioration of psycho-emotional condition and development of mental disorders. The principles for the provision of such counselling, on the basis of which the target group will receive the intended services, are designed on the basis of good practice in Norway, Australia and England, where this type of service is successfully provided and developed.
Once again, what does a welfare consultant mean?
WELFARE CONSULTANT means a specialist who has a relevant education and special training in low-intensity emotional counselling based on cognitive and behavioural therapy for persons experiencing psychological and emotional difficulties.
Services of welfare consultants are available to people aged 18 and over who experience early signs of anxiety and depression and do not seek psychological/medical help.
We invite the residents of Klaipėda District to follow the news about the project implementation activities, and look forward to the time when we can announce that our welfare consultants, having undergone the trainings conducted by the best professionals of the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, are ready to provide their services to you.
Team of the Ensuring Availability of Mental Health Services at Klaipėda District Municipality project LT03-1-SAM-K03-007