Medicus, Vol. 18 No. 2_Adolescencija, 2009.
Review article
Youth Counseling Center
Marija Džepina
; Zavod za javno zdravstvo “Dr. Andrija Štampar”
Tonka Čavlek
; Zavod za javno zdravstvo “Dr. Andrija Štampar”
Vesna Juhović Markus
; Zavod za javno zdravstvo “Dr. Andrija Štampar”
Abstract
The multidisciplinary team of the Youth Counseling Center, consisting of two school physicians, gynecologists, psychologists and other healthcare professionals, was engaged mostly in solving mental and reproductive health problems of adolescents in the period from 2005 to 2008. High school and university students were most often referred to the Counseling Center by their school physicians following preventive examinations or they came to the Centre either at their own initiative or at the recommendation of family doctors or members of expert teams from schools, student residences or universities. All procedures in the Center are free of charge and no referral is required. The Youth Counseling Center, consisting of two school medicine teams with required qualifications and experience, was visited by 10% to 15% of adolescents annually, i.e. about 2000 adolescents. As emotional and behavioral difficulties affect learning and adaptation, 3% to 5% of adolescents were included annually in behavioral cognitive therapy. In 2005, 15% of girls were included in counseling and gynecological treatment. This number exhibited constant growth and reached 60% in 2008. The percentage of boys covered by counseling was from 5% to 15%. Special attention was devoted to working with couples, and especially to counseling, clinical treatment, therapy and psychotherapy. The indicators of demographic trends, sexual behavior and reproductive and mental health are displayed. The work results emphasize the need for opening the same type of counseling centers in Zagreb and throughout Croatia.
Keywords
counseling; adolescents; mental health; reproductive health
Hrčak ID:
57577
URI
Publication date:
20.7.2009.
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