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MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT AND ADDICTION PREVENTION THROUGH INNOVATIVE AND EVIDENCE-BASED SOLUTIONS

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MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT AND ADDICTION PREVENTION

Mental health represents a key dimension of human life with direct impact on society. Our institute systematically connects experts, researchers, and policymakers to jointly develop effective, evidence-based approaches to mental health support. Through professional seminars, conferences, and publications, we bring the latest knowledge in mental health into practice and education.

Addictions require a comprehensive and professionally grounded approach reflecting their biological, psychological, and social aspects. The Institute implements and promotes evidence-based procedures including harm reduction, which demonstrably minimizes the negative impacts of addictive behavior. Our expert analyses and research projects provide professionals and institutions with data and tools for effective prevention and interventions in the field of addiction.

Institute for Mental Health and Addiction Studies (IMHAS) builds an international cooperation network focusing on the Czech Republic and the Central and Eastern European region. Our activities include conducting research projects, developing methodological recommendations, analyzing legislation, and organizing professional platforms for sharing innovative approaches. As an organisation, we contribute to the development of policy and practice in mental health and addiction based on current scientific knowledge and data.

Addictions in the Czech Republic

1_drinking

1 million

Almost 10 % of Czech adults consume alcohol daily.
2_smoking

30%

30% of Czech smokers try to quit smoking every year.
3_gambling

250 000

Nearly quarter millions of Czech adults are at risk of developing problems with gambling. 
4_socials

4 hours

Around 25-30% of Czech kids and 45-50% of Czech adults spend 4 hours and more at social media a day.
5_drugs

25%

More than a quarter of Czech adult population has tried an illicit substance.
6_sedatives

1 million

More than 1 million of Czech adults use hypnotics and sedatives problematically.

MENTAL HEALTH in the Czech Republic

dušnemonc

22%

More than one-fifth of the Czech population suffers from some form of mental illness.
úzkost

1 million

Approximately 1.5 million people in the Czech Republic suffer from anxiety and deppressive disorders.
potřebuje péče

83%

83% o people with mental disorders in the Czech Republic need care but do not receive it. 
hdp

3.8%

Percentage of GDP the Czech Republic loses due to mental illnesses.
1z4

1 in 4

One in four people in the Czech Republic experience mental illness during their lifetime.
smrt

1,500

Approximately 1,500 people in the Czech Republic die by suicide every year, which is more than the number of deaths caused by traffic incidents.

ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH, ADDICTION, AND HARM REDUCTION

Jakub Popík, E.MA.

There’s a deontological argument that categorizes people as either good or bad—guess which category includes those who use drugs.

Judy Chang

I see this conflation between so-called addiction or drug dependency with mental health conditions and disorders. And I think it is concerning because I think we are oversimplifying a very complex phenomenon.

Mgr. Mikuláš Peksa, Ph.D.

We are now facing a public mental health crisis, with digital addictions likely playing an important role, especially among the youngest generation.

Prof. Dr. Aileen O’Gorman, BA, MSC, Ph.D.

There is a real difficulty in supporting people who have both a drug dependency and a mental health problem.

Prof. Dr. Gabriele Fischer

Substance use disorder is the fourth most extensive psychiatric disorder in the European Union, it costs about 300 billion a year.

PhDr. Lenka Vavrinčíková, Ph.D

The combination of alcohol’s high potential for harm and its widespread use suggests that applying the harm reduction approach to alcohol is particularly desirable.

Mgr. Barbara Janíková, DiS.

For drug users, harm reduction should include the provision of reliable information and counseling on pharmacology, prevention, and sexually transmitted diseases, vaccination programs against hepatitis A and B, as well as social assistance for the children of dependent individuals.

Dr. Liesbeth Vandam

We need to create an evidence-based system through monitoring and surveillance. We need to increase preparedness and incorporate foresights and future exercises.

Mgr. Jindřich Vobořil, Pg.Dip.

Harm Reduction means reducing garm instead of pursuing the unrealistic goal of total abstinence. For example, in Sweden where smokers switched to snug, there was a significant drop in heart attacks. This approach is more effective than an outright ban.

Doc. MUDr. Viktor Mravčík, Ph.D.

The harm reduction approach is also applicable to occasional users of addictive substances, as well as to smoking and alcohol use. This includes measures such as needle and syringe exchange programs to prevent the transmission of infections like HIV and hepatitis, overdose prevention programs, and substitution treatment.

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