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As the academic year begins, some universities are expanding the mental health support they offer their students, Czech Television has found. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NUDZ), studying at university can be demanding and stressful. According to its recently published study, over forty per cent of students reported symptoms of moderate to severe depression.
A new help centre has opened at UHK. “It has been set up as an easily accessible first point of contact for students who find themselves in a difficult academic, personal, social or mental health situation and do not know where to turn,” said Ivana Bauerová, head of UHK Point. A crisis counsellor will listen to the student and help them find a specific service, either within the university or elsewhere.
Masaryk University (MUNI) in Brno is increasing the capacity of its psychological support groups from four to six. “The groups offer psychological support and skills training to build mental resilience, whilst also providing an opportunity to meet others and be part of a community,” said Silvie Šimonová, head of the university’s counselling centre.
As well as group counselling, universities also offer individual psychological counselling. This is not a substitute for therapy, but provides short-term psychological support.
MUNI offers both face-to-face and online psychological counselling. According to Šimonová, the waiting time can be as long as eight weeks at the end of the semester.
Charles University in Prague has also seen a high level of interest in its counselling services. “Counselling capacity has been growing steadily over the long term, by an average of twenty-five per cent a year; in recent years, this has meant an increase of around four to five hundred consultations each year,” said Michaela Lagronová, a spokesperson for Charles University.
‘Closer to one another, closer to others’
MUNI has also organised a webinar called ‘SOS Freshers’ for new students. “The aim is to introduce students to the support network and help them start their first semester feeling mentally well,” explained Šimonová, adding that the webinar will offer students advice should they find themselves in an unexpected situation.
The University of Pardubice has organised six consecutive sessions throughout the semester to promote mental health and strengthen relationships with those around us, under the title ‘Closer to Ourselves, Closer to Others’. ‘So that students can understand themselves better and learn to work within their own limits,’ said Lenka Krejčíková, the specialist officer.
The University of West Bohemia in Pilsen, in collaboration with the Bavarian university OTH Amberg-Weiden, has launched the cross-border Kompass project. It is aimed at students who do not ask for help themselves in good time. “The aim is to develop a system that will promptly and automatically alert counsellors to students whose academic performance is deteriorating. The counselling centre will then offer them a consultation to identify the problem,” explained university spokesperson Andrea Čandová.
According to its spokesperson, Egon Havrlant, Palacký University in Olomouc is, for example, developing an online self-coaching programme focusing on wellbeing and resilience.
A newly published study by the National Institute for Health and Care (NÚDZ), in collaboration with the Association of University Counsellors, has focused on stress and mental wellbeing. Nearly 19,000 students from twenty universities took part. More than half reported feeling less satisfied with their current life situation. Forty-four per cent of students described symptoms of moderate to severe depression.
An article written by Daniela Tůmová, avu (CT), initially published on 21 September 2026, 10:53 (CEST)