The newly established roundtable is based on cooperation between the public and civil sectors, churches, and academia.Continue reading
The Ministry of Culture and Innovation’s State Secretariat for Families will hold a major international conference on November 17, 2023 to draw attention to the importance of intergenerational cooperation and the promotion of mental health, an important objective of the Hungarian family policy, reports Magyar Nemzet.
The conference entitled “Between Generations – Intergenerational Cooperation for the Mental Health of Society,” will bring together renowned foreign and domestic experts and policy makers to share good practices and seek common responses to the challenges facing families. This year, the Monspart Sarolta Award for the Elderly will also be awarded at the conference.
Europe’s ageing society is facing not only the consequences of the misguided demographic policies of previous decades, but also the difficulties caused by the pro-immigration policies adopted in response to the issue,”
the secretariat says in a statement.
Helping families is a national strategic issue for Hungary, but the scale of the issue means that it is not enough to think about it only within our borders. European responses are also needed, the statement reads. “Although demographic aspirations are slowing down the ageing process in Western societies, promoting cooperation and solidarity between young, middle-aged, and older generations will be a key issue for family policies in the future. The changing world is also affecting people’s mental health, which can lead to a deterioration in coping skills, creating a competitive disadvantage,” they write.
They also point out that
Hungary’s family policy is almost unique in the world in that it not only supports families through some 30 measures, but the support system covers the whole life cycle.
Hungary’s family-friendly system is based on three pillars: guaranteeing financial security, supporting home ownership, and promoting a quality work-life balance. It is a complex system that families can rely on in all life situations, from welcoming a baby, to setting up a home and helping elderly relatives.
However, mental health is also essential for the success of these pillars.
The conference, bringing together almost thirty national and international speakers, aims to initiate a policy dialogue on the possibilities, tools, and tasks for promoting intergenerational cooperation and improving mental health.
The event will also provide an opportunity for participants to examine the issues that affect mental health in society at different stages of life. Topics will include early childhood development and parent-child bonding, and the impact of a changing world on young people’s choice of partner and family planning.
The conference will also focus on family ties and the challenges faced by different types of families, as well as on the links between mental health in old age and the role of the family.
The event will also feature presentations by János Csák, Minister of Culture and Innovation, Ágnes Hornung, State Secretary for Families, Rod Dreher, Head of the Danube Institute Network Project, Prof. Carlo Casalone, Coordinator of the Science Department of the Academy of Life in Pápa, Prof. Dr. Daniel Lang, Head of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Madeleine Wallin, Secretary General of the European Federation of Parents and Carers at Home, and a number of national and international experts.
Via Magyar Nemzet, Featured image: Pixabay