Tomorrow’s Judges Learn About Children’s Mental Health

The seminar speakers and members of CAMHI’s hub center in Thessaloniki. From left to right: Despina Kioteoglou, Lilian Athanasopoulou, Theano Touma, Efi Kapsimalli, Nikos Zilikis, Eirini Paraschou.

Child & Adolescent Mental Health Initiative—CAMHI's training seminar for students of the National School of the Judiciary in Thessaloniki has been completed, and a corresponding seminar will follow in Athens.

On Wednesday, June 11, CAMHI held a training seminar for students of the National School of the Judiciary (ESDI) at the School's “E. Kroustallakis” auditorium in Thessaloniki. The seminar is part of CAMHI’s collaboration with institutional bodies, aiming to strengthen cross-sectoral responses to issues concerning the mental health of children and adolescents.

Regarding this training initiative, Dr. Anastasia Koumoula, Child Psychiatrist and Director of CAMHI, stated:

“Cultivating a common language and enhancing collaboration between judicial officers and mental health professionals is of critical importance for the protection of children. Through such training sessions, we aim to strengthen the role of the Justice system in recognizing and responding to situations related to minors’ mental health, while also promoting interdisciplinary approaches and systemic care.”

The seminar included presentations, case analyses, and open discussion, with an emphasis on key challenges faced by future judicial officers in their work that relate to minors’ mental health.

Key topics covered included:

collaboration between mental health services and judicial officers in cases of child abuse,
high-conflict divorces and custody issues,
adolescent misconduct and delinquency, and
school bullying.

The seminar featured presentations by CAMHI scientific associates Lilian Athanasopoulou, Nikos Zilikis, Efi Kapsimalli, and Theano Touma, who drew on their clinical experience in child psychiatry to highlight the need for early intervention, interdisciplinary collaboration, and child-centered approaches. The seminar was moderated by Eirini Paraschou, CAMHI team member in Thessaloniki.

This action is part of a broader strategy to train professionals working with children and adolescents. A corresponding seminar will be held on Thursday, June 26, 2025, in Athens, at the Athens Court of First Instance (former Evelpidon School), further strengthening the connection between the judicial and psychiatric fields for the benefit of minors.

CAMHI continues to invest dynamically in building a network of informed and sensitized professionals, aiming for systemic change in how child and adolescent mental health is approached in Greece.

CAMHI's training activities are exclusively supported by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) as part of the SNF Global Health Initiative (GHI) and are implemented in collaboration with the Child Mind Institute (New York).

Learn more about CAMHI’s training programs here