Last spring, the government decided to set up a national support line where licensed staff will provide free support via calls to people with mental illness and their relatives around the clock. The Public Health Agency was tasked with determining who could be responsible for the support line. It is now clear that the Stockholm Region and the eSupport Unit will be the ones to open the line. From December, people in need of conversational support will be able to talk or chat with nurses, psychologists and sociologists, for example, around the clock.

– This support line should be a piece of the puzzle between the important support provided by civil society and the healthcare system. For some, the support will complement other efforts, while for others the support they receive here will be sufficient. It can also be a first step for those who have not sought help before, says Kirsten Unnerborn, manager of the e-Support Unit. In a press release.

The Stockholm Region lists several examples of what employees should be able to support. This includes, among other things, getting help to sort out your thoughts and find possible solutions in acute crises and help in finding the right level of care. Self-help materials should also be available on the website.

The e-Support Unit already runs the national support lines Alkoholhjälpen and Droghjälpen. “This means that the structure, routine and competence are in place to be able to start the support line effectively,” the region wrote in the press release.

Read also:
National helpline underway for people with mental illness