The training will be organised in six modules and will provide participants with knowledge and skills in mental health occupational therapy that will improve the quality of services in mental health centres in BiH.

According to Assistant Minister in the Federal Ministry of Health Goran Čerkez PhD, the training is an important step towards improving the health care system, in particular when it comes to mental health care.

“The occupational therapy training programme is part of a broader process of health care reform in BiH. It is a major step towards prospective establishment of occupational therapy studies. Practice has shown that the absence of these studies has a negative impact on the health sector, and that there is a strong need for this type of education,” said Čerkez.

Program Officer for Health in the Embassy of Switzerland in BiH Maja Zarić has welcomed the established cooperation and said that the project will also assist the participants in applying the newly gained knowledge and skills in their work with people with mental disabilities as well as provide basic occupational therapy equipment for the mental health centres and psychiatric clinics and hospitals in which the participants work.

Occupational therapy training was organised in collaboration with the Medical College also in Prijedor. The training was aimed at nurses and included guest lectures by Swiss occupational therapy experts. In this way the Mental Health Project has achieved long-term cooperation with the Swiss experts and used their knowledge and experience to enhance institutional and professional capacities in the field of mental health.