Mental Health Support

Student well-being is necessarily linked to good mental health. Our available counseling services ensure professional support is readily available to every student navigating mental health challenges.

What is Mental Health? 

Mental health is not the mere absence of disorder; it is a state of well-being that allows individuals to realize their potential, work productively, contribute to their community, and effectively cope with the stresses of everyday life.

Studying at an institution of higher education is a period of transition into a new education system and towards adult life that brings independence and new responsibilities. All of that can, at times, feel overwhelming. Study obligations can set high demands and stress, and emotional difficulties can affect some students' well-being and academic progress. Professional support is there to alleviate this discomfort and help students cope and be successful.

When Should You Reach Out for Help?

The most common reasons why students seek counseling are anxiety, depression, study stress, challenging relationships and family situations, loneliness, and other emotional difficulties. Any ongoing difficulty for which your usual coping strategies are not effective can be addressed in individual counseling. We encourage students to reach out on time to prevent their psychological difficulties from affecting their studies, social life, and physical health.

RIT Croatia partners with an external counseling center to offer individual counseling sessions to our students without long waiting times or additional fees.

How to Schedule an Appointment With a Therapist?

To receive an appointment with a mental health therapist from our external partner center, reach out to the Student Life and Well-Being Coordinator.

FAQ

Even if you’re unsure whether counseling is the right step for you, reach out to the Student Life and Well-Being Coordinator to discuss your concerns. The on-campus coordinator can help assess your needs and, if necessary, guide you to other relevant resources. While a therapist won't solve problems for you, they provide essential support and tools to help you find successful solutions.

No. RIT Croatia covers the cost for up to 8 sessions per student. On average, students attend 3 to 6 sessions with a therapist.

The first session is primarily an introduction, allowing you and the therapist to get to know each other and discuss the concerns that led you to seek support. You can prepare by thinking about the most important issues you'd like to address. The therapist will guide the conversation to clarify your needs.

No. Therapists are bound by strict professional ethics to keep client information confidential. The only information shared with the Student Life and Well-Being Coordinator is the number of sessions you attended.

In Zagreb, the counseling center has offices in two locations, both easily reachable by public transportation from the campus, Park Kate Šoljić, and on Savska Street. In Dubrovnik, the office is located within walking distance of the campus, on Vukovarska Street. You’ll receive the address for your appointment to your RIT email. It is recommended to attend the counseling sessions in person; however, after the initial appointment, if necessary, the counseling sessions can also be held online.

Counseling is available in both English and Croatian, preferably in your first language or the one you feel more comfortable speaking. 

No. The therapists we partner with provide talk therapy focused on offering relief, developing self-awareness, and coping strategies. In Croatia, only a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist can provide formal diagnostic services, and, if the therapist estimates it to be beneficial, they can suggest you see one.

No. In Croatia, only a medical doctor is authorized to prescribe medication.

Please inform the Student Well-Being Coordinator via email or phone (+385 (0) 1 643 9100).

Please respond to the therapist directly to request an alternative appointment, indicating your availability. It’s crucial to reschedule at least 24 hours before your scheduled appointment; otherwise, it will be considered a used session.

Urgent Care

While RIT Croatia’s therapists can offer an appointment within a week, if you or anyone close to you is experiencing an acute mental health crisis that is endangering your well-being or those around you, please see the closest hospital for an emergency visit. The following public services are available 24/7:

  • Clinical Hospital Center Rebro, Kišpatićeva 12, Zagreb 
  • Clinical Hospital Sisters of Charity, Vinogradska 29, Zagreb
  • Clinical Psychiatric Hospital Vrapče, Bolnička 32, Zagreb
  • Psychiatric Hospital Sveti Ivan, Jankomir, Zagreb 
  • General Hospital in Dubrovnik, Dr. Roka Mišetića 2, Dubrovnik
  • General emergency phone number: 112


National suicide prevention hotline: +385 (0)1 2376 470

Worried About Another Student?

As members of the RIT Croatia community, we all share responsibility for maintaining a safe and supportive environment for all our members. If you are worried about one of your fellow students, it can be invaluable to reach out. 

Here are some tips on how to offer help:

  • Choose a private place and an available time for you and the student to talk
  • Listen carefully, paraphrase what you hear, reflect, and validate their feelings
  • Ask what steps the student has taken so far to address the problem
  • Express your willingness to help and be there for the student
  • Help the student identify next steps and reach out to resources
  • Many times, it will be okay just to listen and offer space for another student to be heard
  • Follow up at a later time to find out whether the student has made use of the available resources and if that offered relief

You can encourage the student to contact the Student Life and Well-Being Coordinator to receive a referral to see a therapist or accompany them to their office (room 22, Zagreb campus). 

In urgent situations, you can immediately refer or accompany the student to one of the aforementioned community hospitals.

It is okay to feel overwhelmed by the feelings of worry, fear, or frustration about the situation, which is why it’s important to practice good self-care. You can request a counseling session for yourself to address your own needs and feelings.