National Institute of Mental Health to open adolescent center in Klecany

The National Institute of Mental Health (NUDZ) will launch a specialized outpatient facility in Klecany in January 2025. The center is designed for adolescents aged 14 to 18 struggling with mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and self-harm. The facility aims to serve approximately 200 clients annually, providing care free of charge.

A key feature of the program is that it does not require hospitalization, allowing teenagers to continue attending school during their 14-week treatment. The center will offer two primary therapeutic programs: Dialectical Behavior Therapy for adolescents (DBT-A), which focuses on emotion regulation and crisis behavior, and a program based on cognitive-behavioral therapy (UP-A) for those dealing with anxiety and panic symptoms.

NUDZ Director Jiří Horáček noted that the current state of adolescent mental health is critical, necessitating the rapid introduction of innovative services. The treatment will combine individual and group work, and includes parental involvement through group meetings and telephone coaching in the DBT-A program.