Mental Health in Schools: The Ministry of Education and the CAMHI Initiative Take the Next Step

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The Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, in collaboration with the Child & Adolescent Mental Health Initiative (CAMHI), recently held a working meeting focused on the training program "Mental Health Literacy for Children & Adolescents for Educators" and the Ministry's new circular launching the Trainer-of-Trainers process, aimed at multiplying the program's reach and impact.

The meeting marks a critical step toward the institutional integration of the training into the public education system and was attended by senior-level officials, with a total of 95 participants.

Those present included the Secretary General for Primary & Secondary Education and Special Education of the Ministry, Mr. Ioannis Papadomarkakis, and the Director of the Special Education and Training Directorate, Mr. Ioannis Bousdounis; Professor of Child Psychiatry at Democritus University of Thrace and member of CAMHI's Scientific Coordinating Committee, Prof. Aspasia Serdari; Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist and NHS Director-Coordinator of the Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Department at Thessaloniki General Hospital, Dr. Evangelini (Lilian) Athanasopoulou; and Psychologist and CAMHI member, Ms. Panagiota (Yulie) Mpalikоu. Also in attendance were education advisors for psychologists and social workers, heads of KEDASY centers from across the country, and education quality supervisors.


From left: The Secretary General for Primary & Secondary Education and Special Education of the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, Mr. Ioannis Papadomarkakis, and the Director of the Special Education and Training Directorate, Mr. Ioannis Bousdounis.
From left: The Secretary General for Primary & Secondary Education and Special Education of the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, Mr. Ioannis Papadomarkakis, and the Director of the Special Education and Training Directorate, Mr. Ioannis Bousdounis.


The Regulatory Framework: Circular 47258/Δ3

The meeting was organized in follow-up to the issuance of Circular 47258/Δ3/20.4.2026 by the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, which establishes the regulatory framework for launching the new Trainer-of-Trainers phase, to further disseminate and gradually embed CAMHI's core training program — "Mental Health Literacy for Children & Adolescents for Educators" — into the public education system. The circular is addressed to Education Advisors for Psychologists, Education Advisors for Social Workers, and Psychologists and Social Workers serving in KEDASY, EDY, or SMEAE centers, inviting those who meet the specified criteria to begin the process of becoming trainers and registering in a dedicated Trainer Registry.

During the working meeting, the CAMHI team presented the broader training program for educators, outlining its content, structure, thematic axes, and implementation methodology. Particular emphasis was placed on the Trainer-of-Trainers framework as set out in the circular, and clarifications were provided regarding the next steps foreseen for the institutional integration of the training into the public education system. The open discussion that followed created space for productive dialogue, with participants raising questions, observations, and proposals that will be taken into account in shaping the program's next steps.

It is recalled that the program "Mental Health Literacy for Children & Adolescents" for Educators aims to strengthen the capacity of teachers and specialist support staff to recognize signs of psychological difficulty as they manifest in the school setting and to respond appropriately within the scope of their role — not as clinical specialists, but as a critical link in a coherent support system for children and adolescents.

Speaking at the meeting, Mr. Papadomarkakis stated that CAMHI's training program for school staff addresses the growing needs of the school community, offering a contemporary, evidence-based intervention through a flexible model that combines theoretical training with applied practice. Through this training, he noted, educators do not simply acquire theoretical knowledge — they are equipped with the tools to more effectively support students within the school environment.

On the subject of the Trainer-of-Trainers program, Mr. Bousdounis remarked: "Our goal is the holistic support of the child, and this is achieved through interdisciplinary collaboration. We have at our disposal a reliable, high-quality program, and we must all get behind it."

On behalf of CAMHI, Dr. Athanasopoulou stated: "Today's meeting underscores the importance of prevention in mental health, as well as the need for coordinated interventions and meaningful interdisciplinary collaboration in every effort to strengthen the field of child and adolescent mental health. Only through such conditions can a program like CAMHI's be implemented effectively at the scale required."

From left: Professor of Child Psychiatry at Democritus University of Thrace and member of CAMHI's Scientific Coordinating Committee, Prof. Aspasia Serdari; the Director of the Special Education and Training Directorate, Mr. Ioannis Bousdounis; Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist and NHS Director-Coordinator of the Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Department at Thessaloniki General Hospital, Dr. Evangelini (Lilian) Athanasopoulou; and Psychologist and CAMHI member, Ms. Panagiota (Yulie) Mpalikоu.
From left: Professor of Child Psychiatry at Democritus University of Thrace and member of CAMHI's Scientific Coordinating Committee, Prof. Aspasia Serdari; the Director of the Special Education and Training Directorate, Mr. Ioannis Bousdounis; Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist and NHS Director-Coordinator of the Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Department at Thessaloniki General Hospital, Dr. Evangelini (Lilian) Athanasopoulou; and Psychologist and CAMHI member, Ms. Panagiota (Yulie) Mpalikоu.



Audience participation was particularly warm and engaged, with pointed questions, useful observations, and substantive comments that enriched the discussion. A participant from a remote region of Greece noted: "We feel we are on the right path with this program, as prevention — especially at the early stages of primary education, and particularly in peripheral areas where staffing is insufficient — is of decisive importance for children's mental health care."

This meeting further cements the ongoing collaboration between the Child & Adolescent Mental Health Initiative and the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, in pursuit of a shared goal: improving the mental health of children and adolescents by supporting and strengthening the school ecosystem in which they grow.

Find the Circular 47258/Δ3 20.04.2026 [in Greek only] here

  • CAMHI's training program is implemented in collaboration with the Child Mind Institute (New York), through a nationwide network of organizations and professionals working in public mental health structures across Greece. It is supported exclusively by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) as part of the SNF Global Health Initiative. Learn more about CAMHI: camhi.gr