On July 9, 2026, the closing event of the “Implementation of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Services in the Education System” component of the “Implementation of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Services in the Education Field, Evaluation of the Pilot Program for the Introduction of Pedagogical-Psychological Services for Students with Special Educational Needs and 3rd and 4th Levels of Pedagogical-Psychological Support Services” Program, implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of the Republic of Armenia, the Republican Pedagogical-Psychological Center and UNICEF, took place.
The aim of the Event was to sum up the activities implemented within the framework of the Program, present the achievements and outcomes, as well as discuss opportunities for further development.
Acting Rector of the Armenian State Pedagogical University Lilit Mkrtchyan, Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of the Republic of Armenia Araksia Svajyan, UNICEF Representative ad Interim in Armenia Silvia Mestroni, and Director of the Republican Pedagogical-Psychological Center Lilit Mnatsakanyan delivered welcome speeches.
In her speech, Araksia Svajyan attached importance to the implementation of the Program and the activities carried out within its framework, highlighting the efforts of the Republican Pedagogical-Psychological Center and the Territorial Pedagogical-Psychological Support Centers on strengthening children’s mental health, enhancing their psychosocial resilience and promoting their psychosocial development. Mrs. Svajyan underscored the relevance of the resources developed and the activities carried out within the Program in the context of current educational requirements, stressing the need to respond not only to children’s educational needs but also to their emotional and social development. Mrs. Svajyan noted: “Our objective is to prepare the most sensitive and vulnerable children to cope with a wide range of challenges.” In this context, Araksia Svajyan highlighted the importance of the activities aimed at improving the organization of psychological services in kindergartens and schools.
Welcoming the participants of the Event, UNICEF Representative ad Interim in Armenia Silvia Mestroni emphasized the importance of a safe, supportive and psychologically secure environment as a prerequisite for the full realization of the educational potential of all children: “Due to this cooperation, we have contributed to strengthening the capacities of schools and preschool educational institutions to identify children in need of support in a timely manner, provide the necessary response and create a safe and inclusive learning environment where every child, including refugee children and those from other vulnerable groups, can realize their full potential.” Silvia Mestroni also highlighted the importance of strengthening children’s psychosocial resilience and expanding high-quality mental health services across the education system of Armenia.
RPPC Director Lilit Mnatsakanyan touched upon all the activities implemented within the framework of the Program, the mechanisms of cooperation with schools and kindergartens, placing particular importance on the five pillars of the Program: creation of favourable conditions, access to services, development of the capacities of educators, formation of institution-parent-community cooperation, as well as creation and introduction of response and referral mechanisms. While presenting the recorded achievements, Mrs. Mnatsakanyan noted: “Perhaps the most significant outcome of this partnership is that schools are now better prepared to recognize when a child needs support and to respond before the child is left to face those challenges alone.”
The Event continued with a panel discussion entitled “Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in the Education System: Achievements, Challenges, and Future Perspectives.” During the discussion, the speakers highlighted the key components of introducing Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) into the education system, reflected on its effectiveness, addressed the challenges encountered, and outlined future actions.
Summarizing the results of the “Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Education System” Pilot Program, RPPC Deputy Director Haykuhi Adamyan, as a program expert, presented the process of introducing the Pilot Program on mental health and psychosocial support in educational institutions. H. Adamyan outlined the achievements and prospects of the Program, highlighting the positive changes observed among students, parents, teachers, psychologists, and school directors, as well as its impact on the education system as a whole.
The Event also featured the presentation of the Manual entitled “PROMOTING CHILDREN’S MENTAL HEALTH AND INCREASING THEIR PSYCHOSOCIAL RESILIENCE.” Specialist at RPPC Department of Content Development Alina Manukyan, and Head of RPPC Department of Assessment Liana Margaryan provided a comprehensive overview of the Manual, presenting its content and the possibilities for its application in the educational process.
The Event was another opportunity to appreciate the contribution and cooperation of partners and participants who supported the implementation of the Program. RPPC Director awarded certificates of appreciation to the experts of the Program and the authors of the Manual in recognition of their work, support and effective cooperation, as well as to the general education and preschool educational institutions included in the Program, represented by their directors and psychologists, for acting as Ambassador Schools and Ambassador Kindergartens.
Students from the schools included in the Program were awarded with certificates of honour for the development and effective implementation of projects within the framework of the Program. In particular:
- ✦ “NO ONE IS SUPERFLUOUS” – based on D. Demirchyan’s “The Superfluous Person” (“Avelord”) novel | Stepanavan Basic School N 2 Named After St. Gregory the Illuminator;
- ✦ “EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AS A FACTOR IN PREVENTING ADDICTION” | Abovyan Basic School N 2;
- ✦ “MY INNER STRENGTH: A PATH TO SELF-CONFIDENCE” | Yerevan Basic School N 181.
Participants also received notebooks featuring photos that capture memorable moments from the Program, reflecting a year of joint efforts, achievements, learning, and cooperation, as well as the path to creating positive changes in the educational environment.
It should be noted that the implementation of the Pilot Program was carried out in 8 general education and 8 preschool educational institutions in Lori, Kotayk, and Shirak Marzes and in Yerevan, within framework of which key national-level documents were developed, including the MHPSS concept, sectoral guidelines, and mechanisms for early identification, response, and referral of the MHPSS needs, which establish the foundation for the systematic, effective, and sustainable introduction of the MHPSS into the education system.
The initiative was implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of the Republic of Armenia, UNICEF and the Republican Pedagogical-Psychological Center, within the framework of the “Mental Health and Psychosocial Support for Displaced Persons from Nagorno-Karabakh and Host Communities” Project, and with the financial support of the Government of Japan and the Japan International Cooperation Agency.
17.07.2026
