July 4, 2025 | Friday
Founded in 2016, QIPS is an NGO built through grassroots organizing and peer support, ready to tackle problems regarding mental health and suicide in Kosovo. Through solidarity and cooperation, QIPS built itself from the ground up, becoming the only organization to fight for the rights of mental health patients, prevent suicide, and engage in policymaking—while remaining steadfast in its values of community, inclusivity, and transparency.
Lifeline – Tackling suicide one call at a time
On 17 November 2019, QIPS founded the Lifeline—Kosovo’s only suicide prevention hotline—creating a space where individuals with thoughts of suicide can ask for help, share their experiences, and feel supported without compromising themselves. Thanks to the anonymity the hotline offers, callers are able to express their situations—potentially for the first time in their lives—without fear of stigma or institutionalization.
With EU support, the Lifeline expanded its operations by increasing working hours and adding a new chat function for individuals who are unable to call directly, making the service more accessible. Kosovars are increasingly turning to the Lifeline for support, with at least one contact made daily.
If you are in need of aid, you can contact the Lifeline for free at 0800 12345, or via chat at https://chat.linja-e-jetes.org.
Art Therapy – Combining mental health and artistic expression
Every year during European Mental Health Awareness Week, QIPS organizes the Art Therapy Festival, where artists, experts, and individuals with lived experience are invited into safe spaces to discuss their journeys, exchange ideas, and showcase their work. The festival includes activities such as poetry recitals, concerts, workshops, and discussions, and is open to the public.
This year, QIPS focused on the inclusion of individuals with lived experience. The festival featured powerful discussions with suicide survivors, people with autism, and a co-published zine with Kahmos Çkamos that relays the experiences of mental health patients.
What truly makes the festival impactful, however, is the cooperation with civil society organizations who voluntarily organize activities promoting mental health during the week, dedicating their time and resources to ensure its success.
Research and Reports – Defending the rights of mental health patients
As of 2023, QIPS publishes an annual report on the rights of mental health patients in Kosovo. The report covers the treatment patients receive within institutions, their experiences of marginalization, and the current level of support available.
QIPS’ reports reveal a grim reality for mental health patients, highlighting high levels of institutionalization and low levels of rehabilitation. This marks the first time in Kosovo that mental health treatment is being examined from a human rights perspective, opening space for advocacy that brings forward the voices of individuals living at the margins of society—too often hidden by institutions.
Policymaking – Including lived experiences in policies
In 2024, QIPS launched a petition for the draft law on suicide prevention, aiming to establish a legal framework for institutional support for individuals with suicidal thoughts. Together with 17 other organizations and the support of many volunteers, over 10,000 signatures were gathered in just four months—bringing to parliament, for the first time, a formal request to address suicide through legislation.
With widespread support, the petition was formalized by the Central Election Committee and now awaits action by the next parliament of Kosovo. The law would define: Services for suicide prevention; The integration of suicide prevention into institutional objectives; Mechanisms to promote professionalism and care in media reporting on suicide; Non-clinical services and support; Mechanisms to reduce access to tools for self-harm; Specific programs for non-majority communities; Mechanisms for collecting data on suicide
Beyond the petition, QIPS is also closely following developments on mental health legislation, such as the draft law on mental health. QIPS is committed to ensuring that patient voices are included in the law—a perspective that has been historically absent—to ensure these policies are just and truly address the needs of the people they are written for.