Problems of self-destructive behaviour among adolescents and youth discussed in Astana

[11:14] 15/02/2012, Kazinform
http://engArticles.gazeta.kz/art.asp?aid=357681

"Prospects for development of social and psychological service as part of interaction between state bodies to prevent self-destructive behaviour (suicides) among adolescents and youth" scientific and practical conference was held in Astana on 10 February 2012.

Specialists from education, health, law-enforcement agencies, psychologists, directors of child rights protection committees, Kazakh, Russian and European scholars in psychology, parents, NGOs as well UNICEF in Kazakhstan took part in the conference.

"UNICEF urges establishing specialized multi-disciplinary teams including social workers, psychologists, lawyers, police officers, psychologists, and teachers to provide effective assistance for students and their families. The multidisciplinary nature of the teams would enable elaborating a detailed action plan for each family and child and thus addressing their needs correspondingly, "said Deputy UNICEF Representative in Kazakhstan Radoslaw Rzehak addressing the conference.

According to the press service of the UNICEF in Kazakhstan, the aim of the event is to determine content and methods of social and psychological support in the education process, enhance psychological culture and psychological competency of specialists, and engage state and civil structures in the comprehensive solution of issues to prevent self-destructive behaviour (suicides) among adolescents and youth.

The conference discussed prospects for the development of psychological service in schools, the organization and development of interagency service to counter and prevent suicidal threats, issues of comprehensive socialization of the child in the family as well as reviewed the experience of the Astana-based Institute of Family Education. The conference participants reviewed the rules of work of psychological services in secondary education institutions in Kazakhstan.

As part of the conference master classes by Kazakh and foreign psychologists were organized, including the one by international consultant of UNICEF Professor of Molise University (Italy) Marco Sarchiapone.

The conference resulted in adopting recommendations aimed at improving the system of social and psychological service in the country and preventing self-destructive behaviour among adolescents and youth.