Debrecen4U February 19, 2026

“The Power of a Hug” for the Mental Health of Young People

The Family and Child Welfare Centre of the City of Debrecen held its annual conference on the detection and signaling system at its headquarters on February 18, 2026.

This time, presentations focused on certain aspects of the school-based mental support program launched in Debrecen last year titled “The Power of a Hug.”

As emphasized by Ibolya Aurélia Orosz, head of the Family and Child Welfare Centre of the City of Debrecen, the municipality considers it essential that situations endangering children are identified and reported in a timely manner. The effective operation of the detection and signaling network plays a crucial role in uncovering the underlying causes of problems affecting children and in ensuring that they receive appropriate, professional support.

Protecting children is a shared responsibility. It is not only the task of the child protection system, but also of every professional and every responsible citizen who pays attention to the well‑being of children. Whether a child is raised in their own family or is receiving child protection care, it is our duty to recognize signs of trouble early and take the necessary steps. It is particularly important that domestic violence and child abuse do not remain hidden or be dismissed as private matters. Timely reporting and professional intervention can change lives and shape futures.

Ibolya Aurélia Orosz noted that, based on the professional experience of recent years and the observations of specialists, there is an opportunity to further strengthen cooperation and enhance the effectiveness of the signaling network. The action plan developed following the professional consultation will make it possible to implement concrete measures based on jointly formulated recommendations.

She expressed her gratitude to all professionals involved in the detection and signaling system for their dedicated and committed work. Their cooperation, sense of responsibility, and professional expertise are indispensable in ensuring that nearly 40,000 children in Debrecen can grow up safely, with the support and opportunities they need.

Deputy Mayor Diána Széles welcomed the participants and paid special tribute to Police Colonel Zoltán Illés, the newly appointed Chief of Police of Hajdú‑Bihar County. She emphasized that, thanks to broad cooperation, Debrecen’s child protection detection and signaling system is functioning very well—and continues to improve year by year.

In this context, and in relation to preventing problems and reducing difficulties, she spoke about the program titled “The Power of a Hug,” launched in the 2025/2026 school year through the cooperation of the Municipality of Debrecen, the Debrecen School District Centre, and the Family and Child Welfare Centre. The program began at the city’s largest secondary school, Tóth Árpád Secondary School, and at Szoboszlói Street Primary School. The long‑term goal is for all schools in Debrecen to join the initiative in a phased, quality‑focused rollout.

As part of the program, professionals hold sessions in schools tailored to the age and developmental needs of the children. These sessions provide a shared community experience and support self‑awareness, strengthen class communities, and promote students’ mental well‑being—with the aim of preventing the kinds of problems that would later require intervention by the detection and signaling system.

Deputy Mayor Széles stressed that “The Power of a Hug” seeks to develop children’s skills in self‑awareness, mutual attention, acceptance, empathy, care, and mental self‑protection. Achieving this requires serious, coordinated work from all participants. Early experiences show that the program is already producing results: in classes where the sessions are held—typically during homeroom or ethics lessons—even students who had previously been on the margins of the community have begun to open up. Class cohesion is strengthening, children are paying more attention to one another, and the number of self‑harm incidents, school bullying cases, and cyberbullying reports is decreasing. She noted that action was urgently needed, as these issues are present in Debrecen as well. Reducing them requires cooperation among children, parents, and schools, and the strengthening of relationships between them.

Diána Széles also pointed to a serious challenge: the impact of social media on children. If we do not teach young people how to avoid harming one another online, what kind of adults will they become? A caring city like Debrecen, she said, must lead the way in this educational work and help children understand the importance of empathy—that no one should be hurt because of their gender, name, appearance, or any other characteristic, nor because they see the world differently. Building an accepting society is essential, yet increasingly difficult in the current social media environment.

Through “The Power of a Hug,” Debrecen has undertaken to teach appropriate behavior within small communities—class groups—where change can begin. If this approach proves effective, it can be expanded step by step: first to entire schools, then to families, and eventually to districts and the city as a whole.

Ibolya Aurélia Orosz, head of the Family and Child Welfare Centre, presented the institution’s activities from the past year—supported by extensive data—and highlighted the importance of close cooperation with partner organizations. Regarding the operation of the child protection detection and signaling system, she noted that most reports originate from public education institutions, healthcare providers, and the police. Compared to previous years, the number of reports increased in 2025, and the cases have unfortunately become more difficult and complex.

She pointed out that social factors also contribute to this trend: people are becoming increasingly impatient and expect quick solutions, which influences how they relate to children as well. Among the types of abuse, there has been a significant rise in emotional and sexual abuse, self‑harm, suicidal thoughts, peer abuse, and digital abuse. This cluster of problems has prompted the search for new solutions and strengthened the intention to provide meaningful support to children—an effort embodied in “The Power of a Hug” program.

She stressed that the program can offer valuable assistance not only to children and families, but also to teachers and professionals working with them. She drew attention to the fact that several episodes of “The Power of a Hug” podcast are already available online, in which experts discuss various topics related to the initiative. The first episode can be accessed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0_MY2jO68g

Following the leadership report, presentations were given by the staff of “The Power of a Hug” school‑based mental support program, launched in the 2025/2026 school year in connection with the “Move, Debrecen!” movement. Speakers included Sándor Erdei, institution director, child protection expert and mediator; psychologist Anna Versényi; and psychologist Sándor Beke. Their presentations explored the creation of safe communities, cooperative approaches to handling bullying, the importance and development of emotional intelligence, as well as love and relationships from the perspective of today’s teenagers.

Source and photo credit: debrecen.hu