Aid in the field of mental health must be accessible, effective and responsive to people's needs even at times of crisis. The Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic is actively building a mental health care system that combines prevention, early intervention, professional treatment and follow-up care.
This edition of World Mental Health Day highlights the need for access to mental health care in times of disasters and crises. Such situations bring increased psychological tension, fear, or uncertainty.
We are taking concrete steps at the Ministry to strengthen the availability of mental health care. Through the National Mental Health Support Line, we provide free anonymous assistance, we support the development of a network of psychosocial centres and stationers, the modernisation of psychiatric departments and the upgrading of qualifications through educational programmes. So that mental health care is quality, effective and able to respond to people's needs even at times of crisis, stated the Minister of Health Kamil Šaško on the floor of a children's psychiatric stationer in NÚDCH in Bratislava.
"In our hospital, we have long tried to improve the conditions for treating children patients with psychiatric conditions. In the autumn of 2022 we opened a unique workplace - Daily Stationary for children with eating disorders and gradually completed elements in the exterior. Doctors have confirmed to us that this unique workplace has moved the treatment in a positive direction and has helped to reduce hospitalization. And we are working on other projects, we are currently finalizing with the reconstruction of new areas for Children's Psychiatric Clinic, which will increase the capacity not only of the bed part of the clinic, but also the new functional solution creates better conditions for individual and group therapies, said NÚDCH Director Peter Barton.
National mental health support line (line number: 0800 193, web: www.nlpdz.sk), launched by the Ministry in May 2025, has so far received 1 041 calls. Free and anonymous professional help was sought by callers in particular on topics such as sadness, loneliness, social isolation, long-term health problems, depressed states, addiction, family and partnership problems or domestic violence.
We have also supported the building of psychiatric stationers through two challenges. These are community-based facilities that develop the self-sufficiency and functioning of patients with mental disorders and are a complementary form of psychiatric care. The resources from the Recovery and Resilience Plan totalling EUR 4.3 million were distributed to 10 beneficiaries.
More than 300 thousand euros have been allocated to educational activities aimed at strengthening mental health competences. More than 350 health and 800 non-health professionals were involved. For example, training in the specialization field clinical psychology, psychoraumatology training, complex psychotherapy education, communication skills training in the work of a healthcare professional, nursing in the psychiatry, substance and non-substance addiction, etc.
From the Recovery Plan, we also supported the modernisation of psychiatric departments of over 4.8 million euros. The modernization included the conversion of multi-bed rooms to double rooms with own sanitary facilities and the construction of secluded rooms that replace network beds. The reconstruction of departments in 8 hospitals will help to increase patient comfort, privacy and safety and allow for better and more effective psychiatric care.