Capacity Building for Roma Health Equity

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health has steadily gained more attention as one of the crucial aspects of wellbeing. This was once again underlined when the European Parliament pointed to the need of a mental health action plan for 2021-2027 in a 2020 resolution. Research points out that Roma often suffer from more mental health issues than non-Roma because of many social determinants of health such as difficulties in access to education, housing or employment.

With the kick-off of the new EU strategic Framework for Roma equality, inclusion and participation until 2030, the need to combat the sectoral effects of antigypsyism is reiterated. The key to this, is to involve Roma and pro-Roma civil society in the policy process, thus bringing essential knowledge from the community to the EU level. Sadly, many CSOs report that this has not happened enough in the current Framework.

This event, organised within the 2022 Romani Week, and organised in cooperation with CESPYD, ESE and KHAM Delčevo addresses two topics. It contributes to capacity building in the Roma and pro-Roma civil society, and voices the importance of mental health in Roma inclusion. Furthermore, it explains the development of CESPYD’s mental health model designed by CSOs and NGOs. This is then illustrated through reports on its successful application in North Macedonia.