Early Detection, Timely Intervention: A Day of Training in Ioannina
On Saturday, March 14, 2026, the Children & Adolescent Mental Health Initiative (CAMHI) held an intensive training session on mental health screening for children and adolescents.
The event was organized in collaboration with the Association of Private Sector Pediatricians of Western Greece and the Ionian Islands. The training was led by Associate Professor of Child Psychiatry at the University of Ioannina School of Medicine, Dr. Konstantinos Kotsis, a member of CAMHI's Scientific Coordinating Committee, and Theano Touma, CAMHI's child & adolescent psychiatrist.
Across five thematic modules, participants became familiar with the screening tools that CAMHI has standardized for the Greek population for the early identification of a broad range of mental health disorders, including anxiety, depression, neurodevelopmental disorders, oppositional defiant disorder, as well as eating disorders, conduct disorder, and substance use. The final module was dedicated to particularly critical high-risk cases, including post-traumatic stress, self-harm, suicidality, and abuse. Screening approaches using questionnaires were discussed, along with the steps that must be taken to protect children.
The training included pre- and post-session assessments to capture the benefit for each participant, and concluded with an open discussion.
Remarks were delivered by Ms. Lina Giotaki, Legal Advisor to the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, and Ms. Sofia Finou, President of the Association of Private Sector Pediatricians of Western Greece and the Ionian Islands.
Through initiatives like this, CAMHI continues its effort to empower the health professionals who work with children and adolescents on a daily basis, equipping them with the right tools for early intervention.