Chisinau: The Social Work Programme of the University of Nicosia (UNIC), leading the Erasmus+ project 'Mental Health Matters' (MHM), initiated the project with a kick-off meeting in Chisinau, Moldova. The meeting, held on January 27-28, 2026, gathered partners from Moldova, Italy, and Greece to lay the groundwork for collaborative efforts aimed at enhancing mental health within Vocational Education and Training (VET) in Moldova and the EU.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the MHM consortium comprises three partners from Moldova: ASOCIATIA OBSTEASCA CENTRUL DE INOVARE DI POLITICI DIN MOLDOVA (CIPM), Institutia Publica Colegiul Alexei Mateevici din Chisinau (CAM), and Colegiul Mihai Eminescu din Soroca (CME). It also includes two European partners: CONSORZIO DI COOPERATIVE SOCIALI GLOBAL MED CARE (GMC) from Italy and INSTITOUTO MELETON KAINOTOMIAS KAI ANAPTYXIS A.M.K.E. (IMKKA) from Greece.
The European Commission has highlighted that 'mental health is an integral part of health' (2023), and Moldova faces ongoing challenges in this area due to limited service access, stigma, and socio-economic pressures. The concentration of mental health professionals in urban areas, alongside a reliance on hospital-based care, hinders early support and community-based prevention. Young people are particularly vulnerable, with issues like academic stress, bullying, substance use, and migration-related stress contributing to emotional distress. Services for children and adolescents are lacking, pointing to a need for stronger and more accessible support.
Moldova's VET system plays a crucial role in addressing these challenges by training social assistants, who provide mental health and social support in community and municipal settings. However, the mental health focus within VET programmes is limited, leaving gaps in preparedness for early intervention, stigma reduction, and holistic care.
The kick-off meeting established governance, collaboration mechanisms, and initial priorities for the project, which is led by Dr. Despina Cochliou, Assistant Professor of Social Work at the University of Nicosia. Dr. Cochliou emphasized the link between mental health and educational participation, skills development, and social inclusion, especially for young people. She stated that the MHM project aims to build capacity within VET and social assistance pathways, enhancing knowledge and practical tools to meet emerging needs. The University of Nicosia, in collaboration with partners in Moldova, Italy, and Greece, is dedicated to delivering outputs that offer lasting value.