Mental health care

Are you under pressure? Do you feel like it's all too much? Studying at a medical faculty is demanding – whether you are studying general medicine, dentistry, midwifery, nursing, or public health. Exams, clinics, night shifts, and everyday life on top of it all can exhaust even the most resilient among us. Stress, fatigue, anxiety, or personal worries can silently accumulate – sometimes more than we want to admit to ourselves.

We want you to know one thing: you don't have to handle it alone. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness, but of responsibility towards yourself and courage. The faculty stands by you – and on this page, you will find an overview of all the forms of support available to you.

On this page you will find:

contacts for acute crisis help,
the BUDDY peer support program,
the Big Bro & Big Sis program for new students,
information about the Psychological Counselling Centre of Comenius University,
a guide on how and where to seek further professional help,
stress management tips and useful resources for medical students.

Do you need help immediately?

If you are currently experiencing an acute crisis, severe mental distress, or having thoughts of ending your life, you are not alone – help is just a phone call or click away. The following helplines are free, anonymous, and available even outside of office hours.

Crisis Helpline: 0800 500 333 – 24/7, free and anonymous, by phone as well as via online chat
IPčko (ipcko.sk) – internet counselling for young people; online chat, e-mail counselling, and the possibility of a personal meeting at the Káčko crisis centres
Nezábudka Helpline: 0800 800 566 – anonymous and free telephone counselling, 24/7, throughout Slovakia, including e-mail counselling

If your life or the life of someone close to you is in immediate danger, call the emergency line 112.

BUDDY Program – peer support

You are not alone in this

The BUDDY peer support program connects students with trained peers – "buddies" – who will help you navigate the university environment and advise you on mental well-being. With a buddy, you can address practical issues related to your studies, as well as stress management, exhaustion, social anxiety, or relationship difficulties.

You will be able to apply to the program through a short application form. After filling it out, your buddy will contact you, and together you will find the form of support that suits you best.

Do you want to become a buddy?

The BUDDY program was prepared by the Psychological Counselling Centre of Comenius University in cooperation with the International Relations Office of Comenius University and the Support Centre for Students with Special Needs. If you want to help others and grow yourself at the same time, join as a buddy.

As a buddy, you will gain:

meaningful volunteering experience,
development of communication, teamwork, and organisational skills,
space for personal growth and self-development,
a certificate of completion and experience for your CV,
the opportunity to earn dormitory points,
support throughout the entire programme.

Involvement is flexible and adapts to your availability. After registration, we will send you all the information and training dates.

Big Bro & Big Sis

The Big Bro & Big Sis program helps new students get closer to the academic environment of the faculty as well as life in a new city and at the dormitory. The program is run by senior students who show first-year students around the city, share their study experiences, and help them navigate the new environment.

You can consult your Big Bro or Big Sis at any time about your studies, the organisation of classes, or everyday life at the dorm. The programme connects students across different years, breaks down the barrier between younger and older classmates, fosters new friendships, and significantly facilitates adaptation to the new academic and social environment. In addition to practical help, it primarily brings a sense of security – knowing that you have someone to turn to.

Psychological Counselling Centre of Comenius University

Comenius University offers its students free psychological counselling, both in individual and group form. Consultations are confidential and are provided by experienced psychologists.

If you feel like it's all too much, or you just need to sort out your thoughts in a safe space, do not hesitate to use this option. Mental health care is just as important as physical health care.

The counselling centre operates on the basis of booking a specific consultation appointment. You will find all information about support options, contacts, and consultation hours on the official website: Psychological Counselling Centre of CU.

How and where to seek further professional help

Psychologist, psychiatrist, psychotherapist – who is who?

A psychologist provides psychological counselling and psychotherapy, but does not prescribe medication. Seek one out when you are experiencing long-term stress, anxiety, sadness, relationship problems, difficulties managing your studies, or when you simply need support and guidance during a challenging life situation.

A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who can diagnose mental disorders and prescribe medication. Seek one out when your difficulties are more severe or long-lasting (e.g. severe depression, panic attacks, sleep disorders, eating disorders, suicidal thoughts), or when a psychologist also recommends medication treatment.

A psychotherapist can be a psychologist or a psychiatrist, or another professional, who has completed long-term psychotherapeutic training. They work through therapeutic conversation according to a specific method (e.g. cognitive-behavioural therapy, psychoanalysis, EMDR, and others) and specialise in longer-term therapy.

The availability of appointments with individual specialists varies – do not hesitate to contact several at once to see who can offer you an earlier date. Availability may also differ depending on whether the therapy is covered by health insurance or is paid care.

Where to find a professional

List of psychotherapists with the option to filter by region: psychoterapeuti.org
Search for professionals covered by health insurance – Dôvera: poskytovatelia.dovera.sk, Union: portal.unionzp.sk, VšZP: vszp.sk

Clinical psychologists in Martin (a referral from a general practitioner is required for the examination; services are covered by health insurance):

Mgr. Veronika Hartsfield – clinical psychology outpatient clinic, Kollárova 49, Martin, tel. 0948 034 232
PhDr. Jozef Ďanovský – clinical psychologist, psychotherapist, traffic psychologist, P. Mudroňa 14, Martin, tel. 0904 484 767

Free online resources

The crisis helplines IPčko, Nezábudka, and the Crisis Helpline can be found above in the SOS help section – you can use them even for less acute, yet longer-lasting difficulties. In addition to them, you can also try:

National Helpline for Mental Health Support (nlpdz.sk) – 0800 193 193, free remote psychological counselling
Chuť žiť Helpline (chutzit.sk) – 0800 221 080, a free helpline for people with eating disorders

Paid online counselling

If you prefer an online consultation (e.g. via video call) and are looking for a paid but quickly available form of therapy, you can try platforms like Hedepy, Ksebe.sk, or Mojra.sk, which connect you with psychologists providing therapy online.

Self-care for medical students

The exam period, clinics, night shifts, and performance pressure can be exhausting – and that is normal. Make sure to get enough sleep, regular meals, physical activity, and moments to switch off your mind, not just your phone. Allow yourself breaks even while studying, and don't build up the feeling that you have to handle everything perfectly and without help. Burnout prevention starts with small daily habits – noticing your own boundaries is not a luxury, but a necessity.

Useful resources for your mental well-being

League for Mental Health (dusevnezdravie.sk) – awareness, prevention, and projects supporting mental health in Slovakia
Ksebe platform (ksebe.sk) – easy booking of a consultation with a psychologist, online or in person
Nevyhorení (Unburned) Podcast – conversations about mental health, stress management, and burnout prevention, available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts
meditation and breathing exercise apps (e.g. Headspace, Calm) can help you slow down during a rushed week

Get involved outside of studies too

Try to find time for activities outside of books and clinical practice. The Martin Club of Medical Students offers a space for informal education, volunteering, and new friendships across years – more at jfmed.uniba.sk/martinsky-klub-medikov.