Mobile intervention - rapid help for young people in crisis

There are currently too few therapy places available for mentally ill children and adolescents in Switzerland. According to a study commissioned by the Federal Office of Public Health, the average waiting time for a place is seven weeks. This can be problematic in acute crisis situations. Low-threshold support services such as the «Mobile Intervention for Youth Crises», which has recently been launched in the canton of Zurich for children and adolescents in psychosocial crises, offer support here.

Mrs Ernst, what is this offer about?

The «Mobile Intervention for Youth Crises» is a new central contact point for professionals. It ensures that children and young people in acute psychosocial crises and their families receive the support they need. This supplementary service is intended to close existing gaps in care, relieve the pressure on existing services and test new approaches.

Once the case has been handed over by the specialists, we take over the short-term counselling of those affected. The interdisciplinary specialist team of «Mobile Intervention for Youth Crises» is made up of social workers and psychologists and is mobile. The counselling sessions take place, for example, at the family's home, at a counselling centre, by telephone or via video call. A maximum of ten counselling sessions are planned within six months. The service is free of charge for the children and young people and their families.

Who is the offer aimed at?

The service is aimed at children and young people between the ages of 10 and 18 and their families who live in the canton of Zurich (excluding the city of Zurich) and do not yet have a suitable support programme. As a rule, referrals are made by professionals from child and youth welfare services, schools or the health sector who need acute, short-term support for their clients.

Mobile intervention can help to stabilise the situation while waiting for a therapy place.

These are, for example, school social workers who look after pupils who need closer support - also outside of school - or children and young people who need support after an inpatient stay so that the situation at home and at school can stabilise again. The counsellors also help with the search for a suitable follow-up solution.

Where are the limits?

Mobile intervention for adolescent crises" is a low-threshold counselling service. It is not the kind of psychotherapy required for acute psychiatric crises and illnesses. It is also not the appropriate measure in cases of acute danger to a child's welfare or if this still needs to be clarified. The same applies if a long-term measure is indicated, such as youth coaching or therapy. However, mobile intervention can help to stabilise the situation while waiting for a place.