P7. HMU

Introduction of the organization
Laboratory of Health and Road Safety (LaHeRS) belongs to the Department of Social Work of the Hellenic Mediterranean University (HMU). LaHeRS aims to prevent injuries and promote community health and safety through education, policy-making and research. Injury prevention is one of the key priorities of LaHeRS, particularly the prevention of unintentional injuries (e.g. motor vehicle injuries, falls, pedestrian-related injuries, natural disasters, etc) and violence (child maltreatment, intimate partner violence, sexual violence, suicide, youth violence, etc). It is a unique academic laboratory combining health and social sciences into health and safety promotion strategies while playing a key role in developing and delivering psychosocial services to economically deprived individuals residing in rural and remote areas with limited access to health and social care services. LaHeRS runs laboratory and field research, formulates policy and works directly with people to inform, educate, and empower them about health, mental health and social issues, particularly the underserved and those at risk.  LaHeRS supports the development of scientific tools and material for academic, research and civil organizations, the development of training material and lifelong training programs for front-line professionals, and more. 

Role in the project
LaHeRS is responsible for analyzing and providing insight regarding the socioeconomic cost of road traffic incidents’ long-term consequences. LaHeRS also leads the research regarding accident and field studies, with the aim of drawing the profile of those most severely affected by the long-term consequences of road traffic accidents and providing predictors and indicators necessary to advise in the process of making standardized tools for injury evaluation, recovery assessment, cost analysis, and reduction of long-term consequences.