A helpline, branded as the first for teenagers and young people up to the age of 24, has been launched. Beneficiaries can contact the Youth Klinic Support Line 080080022 on a 24/7 basis. Calls are confidential and toll free, and can be made from any landline or mobile phone, from any corner of the country.
According to representatives of the helpline, its operators and psychologists will provide information, counseling and recommendations to adolescents who face mental and physical health problems. Specialists will also provide support for pubertal development or health problems caused by violence. If necessary, the young people will be directed to specialists with more experience. The network brings together 41 youth-friendly health centers at municipal and district level.
“Besides our helpline operators, there are also psychologists from the Youth Klinic Moldova network who are available to help young people in real time, which will increase the access of adolescents from all parts of the country to qualified medical and psychological care. Also, thanks to our partnership with the Emergency Service 112 and other relevant partners, we aim to strengthen joint actions to better help adolescents and young people in distress”, says Galina Leșco, head of the National Resource Center Neovita.
The development of youth-friendly health services has also been supported by international organizations such as UNICEF. Angela Capcelea, coordinator of health programs at UNICEF Moldova, stressed the need for a hotline for young people in crisis situations: “We are delighted that the range of youth-friendly health services is expanding with a much-needed service - the YK Support Line. We hope that this will facilitate the access of adolescents to health”.
People who are not indifferent to a potential beneficiary’s difficult situation, including friends, colleagues, neighbors, parents or teachers, are also encouraged to call.
The helpline is run by the NGO “Sănătate pentru tineri”, in partnership with Youth Klinic Neovita, with the financial support of UNICEF Moldova and organizational support from the Ministry of Health and the Chisinau City Hall.
