At yesterday's meeting in the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic, the Board of the Government of Mental Health approved the Concept of Mental Health Care of Children and Youth in Slovakia. This is an important document prepared by the interministerial working group set up in September 2025.
Each child in a mental crisis must receive help in time, no matter what door he knocks on. Slovakia will have a common plan for health, education, social affairs, police and justice for the first time. Today, the system often interferes only when the child ends up in psychiatric emergency. We're changing it. Help should come early: at home, at school and in the ambulance until anxiety becomes a serious illness. Each department is given a clear role, measurable goals and responsibility for the outcomesaid Minister of Health Kamil Šaško.
In the light of the new concept, five resorts will share data and joint projects. With the consent of the parents, the child's help profile will be available to experts.
–For stabilisation to take place, this concept is a first important step; we need to develop this concept further, into concrete action, action plans, and I look forward to developing this cooperationsays child commissioner Jozef Mikloško.
–Mental health is really very important when the headquarters doesn't work, nothing works. Many parents fear psychologists, psychiatrists, afraid to stigmatize their children, the child has no one to talk toadded chief expert of MZ SR for children's psychiatry Terézia Rosenberger.
The concept is based on five priorities:
- People- child psychiatrists, psychologists and therapists need more and we need them in every region. One key instrument is resident study. We'll clearly divide the skills so that the child passes the examination once. We will plan our capacities according to the real needs of the regions.
- Prevention- mental health should be discussed openly, both at school and at home. We'll educate our parents through school. We will offer targeted advice to vulnerable families via the employment services. The aim is to capture warning signs before anxiety turns into a chronic illness.
- The child's journey from school to the hospital bed must be fast and smooth- emergency cases get priority. After being released from the hospital, the child should continue to care in the community, family, and school.
- Dependence and the digital environment- both technology and the drug market are changing very quickly, and the state must react equally quickly. Schools will teach children how social network algorithms work and how to take time offline. Health will prepare treatment capacities for children with addiction, including non-substance addictions.
- Security- schools will get clear crisis plans and teachers will be able to provide first psychological assistance. With the police, we set up a timely capture of bullies, violence, radicalisation and self-harm. Courts and cradle guardians should act quickly and gently.
Intellectual health is really very important when the headquarters doesn't work, nothing works. Many parents fear psychologists, psychiatrists, afraid to stigmatize their children, child has no one to talk to,Says the chief specialist of MZ SR for children's psychiatry Terézia Rosenberger.
–A child with a mental problem meets a teacher, a doctor, a psychologist, a social worker, sometimes a policeman and a judge. Each one sees only part of his story. The concept makes them one interconnected network. Sending the baby further is not enough. We must hand it over from hand to hand and care must continueadded K. Šaško
The concept of mental health care of children and young people in Slovakia is currently heading for inter-ministerial commentary and then the minister of health will submit it to the government of the Slovak Republic.
