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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Supporting schools in implementation of guidelines of Working Group for Youth Mental Health

Belgrade, 25 August 2023

Prime Minister Ana Brnabic presided over the session of the Working Group for Youth Mental Health, which was held in the government of Serbia.

At the session, the main focus was on the guidelines for primary and secondary schools, which were delivered to them in order to better prepare for the beginning of the school year.

All members of the Working Group will be available to principals of primary and secondary schools and all school administrations in Serbia, in order to help in the best possible implementation of the guidelines on the ground.

The backbone of the guidelines for schools is working with students on values such as tolerance, empathy, improvement of mutual relations based on cooperation and understanding, with respect for mutual differences. Thus, students from the fifth to the eighth grade will have a new free teaching activity – "Value and Virtues as a Life Compass".

Dr. Milica Milovancevic Pejcic informed the members of the Working Group that, having learned from the experience they gained after the tragedies that happened in May, they formed crisis response teams that from now on will always be on standby and ready to react in crisis situations.

In case of crimes or tragedies with three or more victims in one place, a team with clear tasks and protocol will immediately appear on the scene to provide psychosocial support to all vulnerable persons.

Also, from the beginning of the school year, three police officers will be present in all primary and secondary schools in Serbia – before, during and after classes, and patrols around schools will be increased.

Brnabic said that at today's meeting a report was presented on what has been done so far within this working group, as well as that it is necessary to have more frequent meetings of members of this body in the coming period, considering that the new school year is about to start.

The Prime Minister pointed out that this is the first meeting of the Working Group attended by the newly appointed Minister of Education Slavica Djukic Dejanovic.

Brnabic noted that she is sure that with her knowledge and experience she will contribute to an even better functioning of the working group.

Brnabic expressed her gratitude to all members of the Working Group for their dedicated work in the previous period, as well as their willingness to continue providing support to all vulnerable citizens and students in the future.

She reiterated that the Working Group will listen to the profession in the coming period as well, adding that the government of Serbia practically supports doctors and psychologists, in order to help their guidelines be implemented as much as possible.