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1. Policy framework

2. Stakeholders

3. Guidance to stakeholders

4. Target groups

5. Funding

Policy framework

There are two top-level policy frameworks:

1. Resolution on the National Programme on Mental Health 2014–2018 (Resolucija o nacionalnem programu duševnega zdravja 2014–2018) and Resolution on National programme of Mental Health 2018–2028 (Resolucija o Nacionalnem programu duševnega zdravja 2018–2028). Further information is available in section 7.5 National Strategy(ies)
2. Resolution on the National Social Assistance Programme 2013–2020 (Resolucija o nacionalnem programu socialnega varstva za obdobje 2013–2020), which aims to develop a coherent social welfare system. The resolution was proposed by the responsible ministry in the field of welfare, the Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities. It was adopted in 2013, and its timeframe extends until 2020. Its aims are to establish 30-day centres for the implementation of prevention programmes and the organisation and implementation of assistance, support and self-help, including one telephone support line for children and youth and two housing units for youth.

Stakeholders

Governmental stakeholders (responsible for coordinating and monitoring activities):

• Ministry of Health;
• Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities;
• Ministry of Education, Science and Sport.

Other public stakeholders:

• National Institute of Public Health (Nacionalni inštitut za javno zdravje),
• Centres of Social Work (Centri za socialno delo),
• schools in the national grid of public education.

The designated and mobilised staff are schoolteachers and personnel, social workers and professional health workers.

Non-governmental stakeholders:

• Salesianum Institute (Zavod Salesianum): Programme Rock – Youth Street Education (Skala – mladinska ulična vzgoja). This programme aims to provide each user with individual treatment and to develop a network approach to solve each youth’s problems.
• Slovenian Association of Friends of Youth (Zveza prijateljev mladine): TOM telephone (Telefon TOM) is a phone help line for children and adolescents. TOM was created as an emotional support for children and young people who face various questions, dilemmas or distress in the process of growing up.
• Society for Preventive Work (Društvo za preventivno delo) organises various youth workshops on preventive work in the field of health.
• Institute BOB (Zavod BOB) organises various projects and initiatives regarding different health aspects of young people (e.g. Network Youth Street – Mreža Mlada ulica).
• DrogArt Association (Združenje DrogArt) is a non-profit voluntary and humanitarian organisation with the aim to reduce harmful effects of drugs and alcohol among young people.

The designated and mobilised staff for implementing the abovementioned programmes and projects are mainly youth workers.

Guidance to stakeholders

Professional guidance is targeted toward school counsellors, psychologists, social workers, non-governmental organisations professionals, professional staff of centres for social work and other experts. The body designated as responsible is the National Institute of Public Health. Its tasks comprise providing information, skills and education, as well as training on identifying symptoms and preparing and publishing materials.

Examples of guidelines and handbooks:

• When a pupil faces stress, what can a teacher do (Ko učenca strese stres in kaj lahko pri tem naredi učitelj),
• Support for tackling anxiety – handbook for workshop leaders (Podpora pri spoprijemanju s tesnobo - priročnik za vodje delavnice),
• Healthy lifestyle of secondary school students – mental health (Zdrav življenjski slog srednješolcev - duševno zdravje),
• Improving mental health at school (Izboljševanje duševnega zdravja v šoli).

Target groups

Resolution on the National Programme of Mental Health 2014–2018 defines the following groups as its target (see 2.1 Children and young people – Otroci in mladostniki):

• those who require special care (children and youth who are chronically and often ill),
• children and youth with central nervous system disorders,
• children and youth with mental disorders,
• children and youth who are growing up in unfavourable family conditions and children who live among constant stress (e.g. due to separation from parents)
• early leavers from education and training,
• children and youth from families with a lower socioeconomic status,
• children and youth with fewer friends,
• children and youth who have poorer learning success and who attend a less demanding secondary school programme.

Funding

Sources of public funding:

• the public budget of responsible ministries (Ministry of Health; Ministry of Education, Science and Sport; and Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities),
• local communities (municipalities).

Type of activities supported:

• education and training for workers in the field of mental health,
• implementation of programmes,
• counselling activities for children and youth,
• school counselling centres and professional centres for children and youth with special needs,
• new forms of placement for children and youth with mental disorders.