The National Mental Health Support Line, launched in July 2021, will continue to be available to anyone who needs the help of experts with their mental problems. Minister of Health Vladimír Lengvarský decided to operate it by the end of May 2023. Online experts will also be available in enhanced services during the upcoming holidays, during which they usually record an increased number of calls.
The Ministry of Health originally established National mental health support line in the context of the implementation of the mental health recovery and resilience plan measures in July 2021 for a period of 12 months as a measure to eliminate the consequences of a pandemic on mental health. The operation of the line was extended until the end of 2022 and will last until the end of May 2023.
The national mental health support line works on working days from 14.00 to 22.00 and on weekends from 10.00 to 18.00. Since the greatest stress on the psyche is on holidays, the Ministry extends the period of operation during these days. On Christmas Eve (24.12.2022) the line will run from 10.00 to 22.00 and during New Year's Eve (31.12.2022) from 10.00 to 24.00. Anyone who needs advice and guidance from an experienced psychologist can call.
The number of the National Mental Health Support Line is 0800 193 193.
–As mental health care is one of the priorities of the health sector and the need for support in this area appears to be very important due to the events of the recent years of the Covid-19 pandemic as well as the military conflict in Ukraine, a decision was made to further extend the operation of the line. The operation of the line proved to be very necessary at this time. You can't even talk about real health without mental health, underlined the Minister of Health Vladimir Lengvarsky.

The line offers online psychological advice to provide anonymous and distance communication in the provision of mental health care services. It provides a safe space to talk about uncertainty, concerns or psychological problems in times of pandemic consequences, current military conflict in Ukraine, or other uncertainties brought about by the current times. Experts also provide support to healthcare professionals who experience excessive burdens and are subject to increased likelihood of developing stress-related psychological disorders. They will advise callers in managing acute stress reactions or symptoms of developing post-traumatic stress responses to extreme stress events.
Among the most common problems facing citizens are: for example, panic attacks, loneliness, insecurity, health problems that the client has difficulty coping with, anxiety and depression, but also obtaining information about mental disorders due to suffering relatives. People also struggle with social inclusion difficulties, misunderstandings on the part of the community, burnout syndrome, family relationship problems, conflicts, and possible suicidal tendencies. 25 experts, including 2 supervisors, provide services to people in need of help in solving various problems and life situations. The number of callers is increasing, the average number of calls is approximately 280 per month. Since March 2022, a advisory service has also been established in Ukrainian as a result of the military conflict in Ukraine. Consulting on the so-called -Slovak line - provides 15 advisors, on the so-called "Ukrainian line' it is 9 advisors and one supervisor.
The public can also learn about the activities of the line in the newsletter, which was also translated into the Ukrainian language and distributed to facilities providing psychological/psychiatric care. At the same time, a range of professionally relevant offices and hospitals have been identified, offering cooperation in the care of caller clients to resolve their problems with which the consultants actively cooperate on the line.logo POO MZ SR