The military psychologists have been offering psychological support to the general public, members of the defence sector and professional soldiers since Friday. People can call every day and at the weekends.

“We are ready to advice on how to cope with the loneliness and stress in this challenging period of time to those who give us a call. The stress weakens immunity and we would like to help here,” says the Colonel Helena Sováková from the Military Health Agency who came up with the idea of the psychological helpline.

Picture: “We are ready to advice on how to cope with the loneliness and stress in this challenging period of time to those who give us a call. The stress weakens immunity and we would like to help here,” says the Colonel Helena Sováková (in the picture) | army.cz

The line operates from 7 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week. The Colonel Sováková and her colleagues will rotate in three shifts using three telephones. There will be an evidence of the number and subject of calls. 

“Perhaps, the majority of people will be now interested in how to handle the situation when the whole family is in the quarantine, how to deal with the panic and fear. We will advise on how to communicate with children, what to do for yourself and others in the quarantine, or how to calm down if you cannot sleep,” says Sováková. 

The telephone line will be in operation for a month. The army plans to extend it if needed. 

The contact numbers for the Military Psychological Helpline are as follows: 

973 255 140
973 255 141
973 255 142

The Army has been also helping at our borders for several days. In cooperation with the Police, they have been guarding the borders so that another Corona Virus carrier would not be able to enter the closed Czech Republic.  The soldiers of the Army of the Czech Republic have been participating in the fight against the spread of the Corona Virus at the 29 border crossings and border sections in the area of the protection of the state. The Police have been strengthened by 941 professional soldiers in total with 86 pieces of technology, especially the off-road vehicles. The soldiers rotate in 12-hour shifts.  

Picture: The soldiers have been measuring temperatures of the people at the border crossings, helping to determine the medical history, disinfecting the firefighters in the protective suits. The Army has also provided tents and containers (Mikulov border crossing in the picture) | army.cz

Our soldiers encounter belonging and solidarity with close people, as well as strangers in their service.  For example, individuals with coffee in the flask come to see soldiers or companies have been offering assistance. 

For instance, 167 soldiers from the 74th Mechanized Battalion from Bučovice who have been deployed at the Czech-Austrian state border experience great wave of solidarity. They have been also accommodated in Břeclav, in the area of the local winter stadium: “We have four-bed rooms, the food is excellent as if it was home-cooked meal. People are great, very nice and helpful. For example, we had to solve out the problem where to do the laundry and we got immediately the response from the local company in Břeclav. People are really great,” says the Master Sergeant Břetislav Vičan and others are nodding their heads in agreement.  

Picture: Soldiers praise the cooperation with the Police | army.cz

Soldiers have been serving at seven main stationary stations. In cooperation with the policemen they have been setting up mobile patrols.  “We use the night vision devices MUM-14 in the darkness which is appreciated even by the policemen who do not have them,” reports the Master Sergeant Břetislav Vičan. “We cooperate as one team, no matter which crew we belong to. We support each other and help each other,” he describes the cooperation with the Police of the Czech Republic.