“A click away” – free psychological help for young people in need
“A click away” platform was created by the students from the American University in Blagoevgrad, Victoria Nikolova and Mia Hajdushka, who are also volunteers at the Bulgarian Family Planning and Health Association (BFPA).
Through the platform, anyone under the age of 25 can receive free psychological help from highly qualified psychologists online (and for Sofia residents, also in person). Consultations are not one-time, but as long as there is a need for them.
In 2023, 270 consultations were carried out through the platform, and the users of the service are in the age range from 15 to 24. Women are 10% more than men, and the most needy are those aged 15, 22 and 23.
The idea for the platform arose after a study by BFPA, according to which many young people felt a lack of services in this area during the covid pandemic, the founders share.
“We also conducted a study on our side, in which we found that Bulgaria is one of the three countries in the EU where activities related to mental health are not covered by the Health Insurance Fund, so we decided to do something about it and prove to the institutions that there is a need for such a service, it is sought and its provision must be covered by the state, because young people, and in fact all people, need it”, they add.
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