Online Information and Counseling on Mental Health and Social Empowerment of the Municipality of Minoa Pediada

Description of innovation

Asynchronous Provision of Internet Information and Counseling by the Municipality of Minoa Pediada on Mental Health and Social Empowerment during the COVID-19 period. To prevent the spread of COVID-19 disease, the Municipality has designed a special program for the provision of online information and counseling on mental health and social empowerment issues. Utilizing social networks such as youtube and facebook, a series of short videos were created, through which the scientific staff of the Community Center of the Municipality (psychologist and social worker) presented and analyzed issues related to the effective management of the new everyday life of the citizens in the midst of the "quarantine", and the pandemic of COVID-19 and the protection of their mental health. The causes of increased stress during the COVID-19 era, the emotional and psychological effects of confinement on adults, adolescents and children and suggestions for improving their daily lives, discharge and relaxation techniques, ways to work effectively from home, etc. , were some of the topics analyzed through the videos, which are available both on the YouTube channel of the Municipality of Minoa Pediada(https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_o-bHyXZf0h1EQ-V8f9uJA) and on its page on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/minoapediadas.gr).

Target

Supporting the citizens in order to deal with the effects of the restriction and self-restraint measures taken by the State to stop the spread of COVID-19 disease, effectively managing the new daily life formed for the citizens in the midst of the "quarantine" and the COVID-19 pandemic and protecting their mental health, suggestions for improving their daily lives, discharge and relaxation techniques, ways to work effectively from home, etc. Already the videos on the channel of the Municipality of Minoa Pediada on YouTube have over 5,500 views, while the views on the page of the Municipality on Facebook and other parallel channels exceed 20,000.

Collaborations

It was developed internally due to the initiative of the Administration of the Municipality, under the coordination of the General Secretary and with the scientific assistance of the executives of the Community Center of the Municipality of Minoa Pediada.

Maintaining and integrating innovation after the COVID-19 crisis 

This action can be continued and strengthen the functions of the Municipality in the post-COVID period, especially in the social field. Since it creates a new alternative channel between the municipality and the citizens, it also creates and strengthens a trust relationship. As well, citizens deprived of a natural social network, due to various reasons, can now be directly and indirectly informed and supported for a number of social issues and services.