A family support centre in Skopje, North Macedonia, is supporting the well-being and mental health of local children and families from its unique base at a school in the area. Located at the Jan Amos Komenski school, the centre was set up as part of a joint initiative between WHO and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for improving mental health in children and adolescents. It focuses on behavioural learning, child-parent relationships and interpersonal challenges faced by pupils, while also fostering stronger partnerships between parents and school staff.
The permanent centre is the result of a collaboration between WHO and local partners including Karpoš Municipality, the Association for sustainable development BIOM – Skopje, and the Centre of Excellence in Parenting (Alternativa). Weekly sessions are open to all applicants, offering counselling for pupils, interactive training for parents and family-based interventions, facilitated by trained counsellors. It is a unique place from which to provide mental health and family counselling to the local community.
“It’s such a professional fulfilment to see our children’s confidence increase and their parents’ active engagement and satisfaction. These activities significantly boost the educational process, ensuring an environment of support and cooperation,” said the school’s director, Tatjana Jankulovska.
Parent and community engagement
Since opening, the support centre has become a trusted resource for families, offering free services in a dedicated safe space provided by the school. Expert psychologists conduct individual and family sessions, with systemic counselling and psychotherapy available in complex cases.
The project also improves communication with parents in the post-COVID era. During April 2024, 20 school psychologists, pedagogues and teachers from all schools in Karpoš Municipality were trained by experts from the Centre of Excellence in Parenting, to help parents improve their parenting skills.
“Parenthood is at the core of our approach,” explains Aleksandra Dimitrovska from the Centre of Excellence in Parenting. “Through tasks, role-play exercises and open dialogue, parents gain practical skills to address challenges, thereby building stronger relationships with their children. Experience shows such efforts produce tangible results. The Jan Amos Komenski school centre is no exception. It’s rewarding to see how a well-conceived WHO initiative has transformed into a functioning permanent support provision, where parents and children benefit from tailored counselling.”
Immediate and long-term impact
The success of the support centre at Jan Amos Komenski school has been well recognized, inspiring other schools in Karpoš to consider implementing similar programmes, with hopes of expanding these services throughout the municipality. Equally so, the attention of the municipality is now focused on developing the idea further and increasing outreach.
Emilija Arsovska, Head of the Education Department, Karpoš Municipality, emphasized, “This is more than just a support centre – it is a testament to what we can achieve when schools, parents and communities come together for the well-being of our children. We certainly hope this example will be followed by others, with this municipality committed to extending a similar model to the remaining 5 schools in the area.