Armenia: Influences and Organization of Mental Health Services

Relatively little has been published on mental health care and counseling as they pertain to Armenia, a country of approximately three million residents that gained independence in 1991 from the former Soviet Union. Various influences, such as its history, economy, religious and family systems, and a major natural disaster in 1988, have affected the subsequent development of professional mental health systems. Though challenges exist, improvements have been evident in the past 15 years with the development of psychiatric facilities, laws protecting clients using mental health services, and professional associations to educate and advocate for mental healthcare issues. The development and possible role of counseling in this country are also discussed.     

Assessment and examinations in Armenia

This profile describes traditional assessment practices in Armenia – many of which are typical of those formerly practised throughout the Soviet Union – and the ongoing efforts to reform formal examinations and school‐based evaluation techniques. The extraordinarily high stakes associated with the examination currently used to select applicants for university places are discussed, as are the consequences for teaching and learning of having entrance tests based on published, rather than unseen, item banks. Progress towards introducing a new, dual‐purpose school‐leaving/university selection examination is outlined and the remaining hurdles described.