Project „By Your Side"

1. Introduction

• Project Description:

  The „By Your Side" project offers quick and free psychological counseling, psychotherapeutic help, and support to people in severe personal crises. Our service fills a gap for individuals who urgently need help and are facing months-long waiting times for psychologists and psychotherapists, or who cannot afford private services due to financial reasons. Our goal is to alleviate acute stress, provide initial orientation in difficult life situations, and build a long-term support network.

• Background:

  The psychological burdens in our society are continuously increasing. About 18% of adults in Germany are affected by mental health disorders each year, particularly depression, anxiety disorders, and acute stress reactions. However, the capacity of the healthcare system is far from sufficient to meet this demand. According to a survey by the German Society of Psychiatry, the average waiting time for therapy slots is six months or more. For people in acute crises, such as personal losses, severe conflicts, or sudden overwhelm, this waiting time is not bearable. A quick intervention in such cases is often crucial to stabilize the situation and prevent the problem from deepening.

  "By Your Side" addresses this need by offering quick and uncomplicated help to people in difficult moments, without financial barriers hindering access. Our approach combines professional immediate help with low-threshold services to ease the way out of the crisis.

• Target Group:

  The project is aimed at individuals who want to better understand the connection between their lifestyle and mental health. It particularly addresses:

  • People in acute personal crises (e.g., sudden overwhelm, conflicts, losses)
  • People who cannot afford private psychological help
  • People waiting for a therapy slot and needing transitional solutions

2. Project Goals

• Main Goals:

  • Providing quick and free psychological immediate help for people in crises.
  • Eliminating financial barriers to make help accessible to everyone.
  • Providing safety and orientation in stressful situations.
  • Educating about the importance of early access to psychological help to prevent long-term stress and reduce stigma.

• Secondary Goals:

  • Creating a platform for short- to medium-term psychological interventions, counseling, and mentoring.
  • Building a network of professionals and volunteers to establish a stable support structure in the long run.

3. Organizational Details

• Project Capacity and Scope:

  Currently, we can offer 80 counseling hours per month. Our support is available to people in German-speaking countries as well as in Poland.

• Scope of Services:

  Individual sessions last between 60 and 120 minutes, depending on the issue. If necessary, we offer follow-up appointments or transitional solutions to ensure continuous support.

• Access Methods:

  In person at our practice in Myślenice or online via our secure video conferencing system.

• Cost:

  The project is currently funded exclusively through voluntary donations and crowdfunding, which allows us to provide support free of charge.

4. Project Effort

• Financial Resources:

  To carry out the project sustainably, we need funding of 153,000 PLN for 2025. This amount covers operational costs, the maintenance and operation of the digital infrastructure, training for volunteers, compensation for external professionals, and weekly supervision.

• Time Resources:

  Our team consists of professionals and volunteers who collectively dedicate 1,300 hours per year for counseling, organization, and supervision.

5. Contact and Further Information

• Project Management:
  Fundacja Instytut OM Noizzes
  institut@om-noizzes.com | +48 536 021 712

• Partner Organizations:
  ION Research & Education Sp. z o.o., Kraków

• How Can I Support?
  You can financially support our project with a sponsorship, participate as a partner, or accompany us with your expertise. Contact us to learn more.