A well-formulated question, guidance given from an external perspective, and emotional support can save lives in crisis situations. In this spirit, the project named “Kapcsolj egyből (Switch immediately)!” was implemented by the Családbarát Ország Nonprofit Közhasznú Kft. (CSBO) during the European Union 2014-2020 programming period. This development, supported by the Széchenyi 2020 program, encompassed the coordination of psychological support services, professional trainings for staff, and modernization of the supportive IT environment.
The primary objective of the highlighted projects of the Családbarát Ország Nonprofit Közhasznú Kft. (CSBO) is the establishment and operation of family and population policy tools, as well as family supporting measures. The company undertakes significant tasks, such as the development of a national strategy to promote effective actions against intimate partner violence. The implementation of this is facilitated by the project called “Crisis Intervention Services Development.” This development, known as “Kapcsolj egyből!” was realized with the support of the European Union, involving several collaborative partners, including the National Crisis Management and Information Telephone Service, the member services of the Hungarian Mental First Aid Telephone Service Association, and the Association for Youth Mental Hygiene.
The project aims to provide more effective assistance to victims of intimate partner violence and human trafficking, as well as to prevent the occurrence of severe crisis situations through three key measures. Firstly, the development of the National Crisis Management and Information Telephone Service (OKIT), operated as an organizational unit of CSBO. The primary goal of the service is to assist those who have become victims of intimate partner violence, child abuse, prostitution, or human trafficking, and if necessary, to arrange for their accommodation and immediate connection with assisting professionals.
The second component of the project is the professional development of the sector. Within this framework, CSBO provided coaching and supervisory services for crisis intervention service personnel, while 200 volunteer experts working at the mental health helplines received uniform protocols and training opportunities. Further training supported the coordination of work in various sectors of child protection reporting systems and those providing personal care, thereby increasing effective collaboration.
In addition to the aforementioned developments, professionals aimed to increase awareness of the possibilities for seeking help, including the assistance provided by OKIT. Accordingly, communication campaigns and public outreach events played an important role, primarily in presenting the helpline numbers and available channels—particularly targeting the highly vulnerable age group of 16-29-year-olds. Thanks to the implemented IT developments within the project, helplines are now accessible not only via phone calls but also through email and chat services.
The development was implemented from EU funding in the project EFOP-1.2.4-VEKOP-16-2016-00001 under the Human Resource Development Operational Programme.
Find out more about the project in the Project Finder:Details
