ZAGREB, 10 Oct (Hina) - To mark World Mental Health Day, the Croatian Ministry of Health  presented a new protocol for response and communication in mental health crises, aimed at improving intersectoral cooperation and access to psychological support services.

This year's theme, "Access to Services: Mental Health in Catastrophes and Emergencies", highlighted the need for stronger institutional cooperation in identifying and addressing mental health risks. The protocol, developed by an intersectoral task force, defines three levels of intervention -- green, yellow and red zones -- depending on the degree of risk, and prescribes coordinated action by all relevant institutions.

Psychiatrist Natko Gereš of the Croatian Institute of Public Health (HZJZ) said the green zone focuses on resilience and education, the yellow on early detection and professional involvement, while the red covers urgent crises requiring immediate intervention and crisis centre engagement.

The HZJZ's Danijela Štimac Grbić said mental disorders remain one of Croatia's main public health challenges, affecting about six per cent of the population. More than half of all disorders begin by age 14, she noted, with alcohol-related conditions still the leading cause of hospitalisation among men, and recurrent depressive disorder most common among women.

Croatia is also joining the new European PRISM project, which will create a training platform for professionals who first encounter people in crisis, such as police, firefighters, teachers and emergency staff, to help them recognise warning signs and respond appropriately.

Health Ministry official Ivana Portolan Pajić recalled that psychologists have been introduced into primary care, allowing patients to access services free of charge and without referral. By the end of 2026, all community health centres in Croatia are expected to have psychologists available, helping to reduce stigma and ease the burden on secondary and tertiary care.