TNMU Mental Health Center Conducts Training for Educators

As part of expanding its educational outreach, the Mental Health Center of I. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University held an important training and practical event for educators. The meeting took place at the Ternopil Regional Center for Ecological and Naturalistic Creativity of Student Youth.

The speakers of the event were leading specialists of the center: psychiatrist Oleksandr Lozynskyi and clinical psychologist Nataliia Verbetska.

The main topic of discussion was the modern biopsychosocial model — a tool that helps to better understand the nature of challenges faced by children and adolescents by examining them through the lens of biological factors, psychological conditions, and social environment.

During the meeting, educators explored the following issues:
• early diagnosis: how to recognize the first signs of mental disorders or emotional crises in students;
• the teacher’s role: how to notice behavioral changes in time and become a source of support rather than criticism;
• sensitive communication: practical advice on how to appropriately talk with parents about their child’s mental health;
• care pathway: clear algorithms for referring a child to specialized professionals, including a psychiatrist, without fear or prejudice.

“Teachers are often the adults who first notice warning signs in a child’s condition. Our task is to equip them with knowledge so that this support is timely, professional, and free from stigma,” the center’s specialists emphasized.

Special attention was given to creating a non-stigmatizing environment in educational institutions. Participants agreed that only a close partnership between schools, families, and healthcare professionals can ensure a child’s safe development and psychological well-being.

The TNMU Mental Health Center plans to continue expanding educational initiatives for educators across the region, strengthening the system of early detection and support for children in challenging times.