In the context of the increasingly pronounced challenges faced by young people, the issue of mental health can no longer remain on the margins of the education system. Despite this, in most secondary schools in the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton, students do not have continuous and systematically secured access to a school psychologist.

Although Pedagogical Standards and Norms foresee the engagement of professional associates, their implementation in practice is not consistent. As a result, a significant number of students go through school without available professional support at the moments when it is most needed, whether it is anxiety, peer relationships, pressures or other developmental challenges.

In a conversation with our psychologist, Medina Kljako, about the importance of available and continuous psychological support for young people, Medina emphasizes that this support is important for easier management of emotions, school pressure, expectations, both their own and those of the school system. A psychologist should offer a safe place for an empathetic, comprehensive, and holistic approach to each student.

In the absence of a school psychologist, the burden of recognition and response often rests with teachers and educators, who, despite their commitment, do not have the capacity to respond to the increasingly complex needs of students. This is not sustainable, nor does it ensure equal access for all children.

For these reasons, we have launched a campaign aimed at the systematic employment of psychologists in all secondary schools in the HNK region. This initiative does not start from an assumption, but from a specific need that has already been recognized through existing regulations, but has not yet been fully implemented. Our focus is on translating this obligation into practice through clear steps, budget planning, and institutional accountability.

Over the coming period, the campaign will open up space for dialogue with institutions, schools, parents, and the wider public, with the aim of treating the issue of psychological support in schools as a key part of quality education.