Evaluation of Pilot Training in the Prevention of Mental Health Problems among Children and Adolescents in Selected Locations of the Czech Republic
Abstract
Background: Community prevention of risk behaviours plays a pivotal role in fostering healthier societies and safeguarding the well-being of individuals while emphasising proactive measures to mitigate the adverse effects of risk behaviours. Aim: The study aims to assess specialised educational modules tailored for professionals in risk behaviour prevention across three selected locations.
Methods: These modules were implemented as part of the COPERISK project implemented in 2021-2023 in the municipalities of Orlová, Havířov and the Prague 11 District. The evaluation engaged participants across seven distinct educational modules, with a total of 868 respondents, including some who participated in multiple modules.
The average age of the participants was 46.6 years, with an average of 6.9 years of experience in the prevention field; the majority of the respondents were women (81.6%). Three out of the seven educational modules were offered in online formats, while the remaining four were conducted in face-to-face settings.
Results: The professional training events, supported through a community prevention project, received positive evaluations. The face-to-face modules were rated more favourably than the online ones in terms of subjective benefits.
Conclusions: Overall, all the training modules were accepted positively. Online training shows excellent results in terms of the breadth of information dissemination, while live training is best suited to the development of hands-on skills and interactive learning.