Background
Roma community faces severe challenges including poverty, unemployment, social exclusion and systemic discrimination. These factors contribute to higher rates of mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and substance abuse within the community. Despite this, mental health remains stigmatised and largely untreated among the Roma population. Moreover, barriers such as limited healthcare access, a lack of cultural sensitivity among professionals, high treatment dropout rates of up to 50%, and disproportionate rates of mental health issues among Roma women highlight the need for effective solutions. These include community-based mobile mental health units, trusted Roma health mediators, and culturally sensitive psychoeducation and awareness programs.
Countries with large Roma populations, such as Romania, Bulgaria, and Greece, report a high prevalence of mental health problems among Roma children and adults. Despite the significant size of the Roma population in these countries, limited data exists to guide effective interventions. Addressing stigma, enhancing education, and ensuring access to affordable, culturally sensitive healthcare are crucial to improving Roma mental health and fostering social inclusion
The project
Given the above-mentioned challenges, the SASTIPE consortium has developed an initiative aimed at promoting mental health and improving Roma people’s access to high-quality mental health services in Bulgaria, Romania, and Greece. The project focuses on the Roma community, recognizing their specific needs and vulnerabilities, and will propose a targeted approach to address these needs, disseminating it through transnational cooperation.
To implement this approach, the project will engage Roma Health Mediators (RHM) and Mental Health Professionals (MHP), whose collaboration is essential for effectively identifying, understanding, and addressing the needs of this vulnerable group. Their combined efforts will facilitate access to mental health support, combat stigma, and ultimately improve the quality of life for Roma individuals.
Within this context, the main objectives of the Sastipe project are:
- to collect and provide data on mental health challenges faced by the Roma community to better inform decision-makers and healthcare professionals.
- to develop and implement best practices for promoting mental health and preventing mental health issues.
- to enhance the knowledge and skills of Roma health mediators to identify and address mental health challenges in their communities.
- to strengthen cooperation between Roma health mediators and healthcare professionals working in community centers and psychiatric services.
- to improve access of Roma communities to evidence-based, innovative and personalized approaches/services in the management of mental health problems
SASTIPE at a glance:
- A detailed Research Protocol
- A Desk Research
- A Field Research
- Roma Mental Health Network in each implementing countries
- Development of ‘Cooperation Protocol’ and ‘Code of Ethics and Work’ for Roma Health Mediators and Health Professionals, and of online Platform
- One training programme for Roma Health Mediators
- One training programme for Mental Health Professionals working in Roma community centres or the public health system in Greece, Romania and Bulgaria