The mental health of children and adolescents in the Czech Republic is under increasing pressure. While approximately one in seven people worldwide suffers from mental illness, according to data from the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately 40% of Czech ninth-graders show signs of moderate to severe depression and about 30% show signs of anxiety. At the same time, the current system of care solves problems rather than prevention.
"Digital technologies are part of the everyday lives of children and adults. As we are a responsible provider of these services, we have to ask what we are doing for those who are most vulnerable not only in this environment. We have been dealing with mental health topics for a long time. But now we will focus exclusively on regional communities, where young people live and spend time and where they can get the support they need at the first sign of mental health problems. We connect people with our services – and therefore we will connect people beyond our business activities," says Martin Orgoník, Director of External Relations and Sustainability at T-Mobile.
The call supports community-based programs and activities that bring mental health care into children's natural environments — schools, families, leisure organizations, and communities. Instead of increasing the capacity of professionals in specialized organizations, they will focus on strengthening the competences of communities in the prevention of mental health problems, so that mental health care is not isolated, but becomes a normal part of life. This is when prevention is strongest.
"Waiting times for professional help in the regions are counted in months. The answer is a community approach — that is, support close to home, through people the child trusts. It is not a substitute solution, but a natural first layer of help with enormous potential. Therefore, we will offer grantees not only finance, but also mentoring over the course of up to one year, in which they will implement projects," says Barbora Pšenicová, director of the organization Nevypusť duši, z. s.
"Each of us can be a support for someone, we just need to know how to do it from time to time. At the Via Foundation, we have long seen that local communities have a huge gift for catching problems where the system often fails. With this appeal, we want to give courage and resources to all those who are not indifferent to how young people around them feel. We want help not to be an unaffordable luxury, but a natural part of our neighborhood," says Hana Morávková, PR manager of the Via Foundation.
Non-governmental non-profit organizations based in the community, community, cultural, leisure and low-threshold organizations, contributory organizations such as schools and school facilities, libraries or children's homes, public universities and informal groups consisting of at least three people, based or operating outside of Prague, can apply. A duly completed application must be submitted by May 20, 2026. The maximum amount of support for one project is CZK 200,000. More information, including the registration form, can be found at the link https://www.nadacevia.cz/nabidka-programu/fond-t-mobile/komunita-oporou-dusevnimu-zdravi/.