The Standing Committee on Public Health envisions empowering future healthcare professionals to advocate for and promote the prevention and maintenance of community health, tailored to the needs of each community. As one of the first Standing Committees in which HelMSIC became active, it has, over the years, moved, educated, and informed both medical students and the general public about major public health issues, always based on current needs. Through the years, medical students have been comprehensively educated on mental health through conferences and seminars, have been informed about issues such as antimicrobial resistance, and have informed the public about vaccines and immunization, as well as about healthy lifestyles, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes.
Structure
The Standing Committee on Public Health is nationally coordinated by the National Officer on Public Health (NPO), while local responsibilities are managed by the Local Officers on Public Health (LPOs), who convey the importance and current relevance of public health to their local committees.
Additionally, members of the Standing Committee include peer education trainers on public health issues, who have received specialized training in adult non-formal learning and public health topics.
Any medical student interested in joining the Standing Committee’s team is welcome to do so.
Topics
The Standing Committee on Public Health addresses and engages with topics related to public health, which are divided into the following broader topics, each encompassing various sub-topics:
Antimicrobial Resistance
Emerging Infections
Neglected Tropical Diseases
Vaccines and Immunization
Cancer Awareness and Prevention
Cardiovascular Diseases
Diabetes
Alcohol Abuse
Smoking
Primary Prevention
Promoting Mental Health
Psychiatric Reform
Mental Health of Healthcare Professionals
Mental Health Service Provision
Breaking the Stigma around Mental Health
Primary Healthcare
Universal Health Coverage
Organ Donation
Promotion of Voluntary Blood Donation
Climate Change and Health Impact
One Health
Planetary Health
Sustainability of Health Systems during Climate Change
International Affairs
The Standing Committee on Public Health corresponds to the Standing Committee on Public Health (SCOPH) of the IFMSA and the Public Health Pillar of the EMSA.
Projects
Public health is undeniably a crucial pillar of societal health, a fact that was highlighted starkly during the pandemic. Since 2018, HelMSIC, through its Standing Committee on Public Health, has been organizing the Health Festival – a medical students’ national conference on public health.
Its goal is to provide a broad education for medical students on topics related to current public health issues and to raise awareness among the general public. The holistic approach to these topics is achieved through various methods, such as lectures, roundtables, and practical workshops. Additionally, the conference aims to disseminate the acquired knowledge to the general public through street actions.
The 1st Health Festival which focused on Cardiovascular Diseases and Diabetes, was successfully held in March 2018 in Thessaloniki. The event was held under the support of the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the Hellenic Medical Association, the General Secretariat for Lifelong Learning and Youth, the National School of Public Health, the Medical Association of Thessaloniki, the Municipality of Thessaloniki, and the School of Medicine of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
The 2nd Health Festival which focused on Infectious Diseases, took place online in December 2020, under the support of the Medical Associations of Athens and Thessaloniki and the Medical Schools of Athens, Patras, Thessaloniki, Alexandroupolis, and Larissa.
The 3rd Health Festival which focused on Mental Health, was held in Thessaloniki in December 2023, and it was co-organized with the 3rd Health District of Greece, and under the support of all Medical Schools in the country, the Hellenic Psychiatric Association, the Hellenic Medical Association, the Central Macedonia Region, the Municipality of Thessaloniki, and the Medical Associations of Athens and Evros.
Health Festival incorporates a wide range of methods, including:
- Roundtables conducted by experts specialized in the conference’s focus area.
- Practical Workshops with hands-on sessions for in-depth learning.
- Trainings led by peer educators from HelMSIC.
- Interactive Methods, such as debates, open space discussions, and other formats.
- Active Involvement of Medical Students participating in roundtables, posters and abstracts.
Recognizing that public health centers around the community and the empowerment of the general population, the Health Festival culminates in a street action aimed at informing and raising awareness about the conference’s focus area among the general public.
The Health Festival would not be possible if it wasn’t for the support of the conference’s external partners, who have contributed significantly to the high quality and smooth execution of the event. Specifically, contributions from faculty members of all medical schools in the country, doctors from the National Health System, and other scientific personnel with in-depth knowledge of the conference’s focus area are invaluable. Additionally, the involvement of civil society organizations in lectures and street actions is highly appreciated. Finally, none of this would have been possible without the assistance and support of the organizations under whose support the conference was held, including the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki School of Medicine and the 3rd Health District of Greece.
Mental health is more prominent today than ever before. The last decade has seen an unprecedented increase in public interest and awareness regarding mental health, as the value of mental well-being in overall wellness has begun to be understood.
It is a fact that healthcare professionals face a highly demanding daily routine, dealing with numerous mental health disorders, as well as stigma and prejudice associated with these conditions, according to data from the British National Health Service (NHS).
HelMSIC, focusing on Mental Health for the 2022/23 and 2023/24 terms, recognizes the crucial role that medical students, as future healthcare professionals, have in addressing these issues and aims to educate about the multifaceted nature of mental health disorders and to raise awareness among medical students about the challenges they will face.
This way, the Mental Health Seminar was held in November 2022, including:
- Educational Lectures delivered by experts and faculty members.
- Interactive Talks engaging the audience and facilitating the exchange of views.
- Open Space Discussion
- A method for reviewing and reflecting on the topics covered
This seminar aims to:
- Educate Participants on mental health issues and the challenges they will face as future healthcare professionals.
- Train students on recognizing and addressing mental health problems that may affect them, including familiarizing them with support lines and when to seek help.
- Understanding Stigma around mental health conditions and addressing any internalized stigma that participants may have.
The seminar was conducted in collaboration with faculty members and healthcare professionals from the University Psychiatric Clinics across the country, staff from university support structures, as well as residents, specialists, and nursing staff from hospitals in the country, individuals whose mental health is daily affected and was particularly burdened during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Blood donation is one of the simplest forms of voluntary contribution to others and a significant aspect of public health, as it involves promoting health at the community level.
Recognizing the impact that such a simple act can have on the lives of up to three people, HelMSIC organizes voluntary blood donations in collaboration with the Blood Donation Departments of university hospitals across the country and other volunteer groups, active in various Medical Schools.
So far, voluntary blood donations have been held in the local committees of Thessaloniki, Larissa, and Patras.
Through these blood donation drives, HelMSIC aims to:
- Promote the Spirit of Giving to individuals in need
- Raise Awareness among the student communities about the importance and benefits of voluntary blood donation
