February 23 is the International Day Against Depression. According to the World Health Organization, depression is the fourth most serious disease in the world and one of the leading causes of suicide. In Poland, 2 percent of children aged 6-12 and as many as 20 percent in the adolescent group suffer from depression. This is a major challenge for the psychiatric care system that is currently being reformed.
Depression affects up to one in five teenagers. Effective prevention and support are needed
Published Feb. 23, 2024 12:19
fot. Piotr Wójcik
The essence of the ongoing reform of the system of psychiatric care for children and adolescents is to remodel it into a leading role of community-based support, the first of three levels of care. According to Dr. Aleksandra Lewandowska, national consultant for child and adolescent psychiatry, there is a lack of coordination between the different levels.
- We also talk a lot about the need for interdepartmental cooperation. It's a health-related model, but I'm counting on this cooperation, because the pyramid of care must be based on prevention," points out Dr. Aleksandra Lewandowska.
Meanwhile, a national program to prevent suicidal behavior is being implemented in Poland from 2021 to 2025.
- This is part of the National Health Program. On the basis of scientific research, experts proposed drawing a suicidal behavior prevention program that used four strategies with scientifically proven effectiveness. These are limiting access to methods, developing social and emotional competence, identifying and supporting people in suicidal crisis early, and describing suicidal behavior responsibly in the media, mentions psychologist Dr. Daria Biechowska of the Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology.
Preventing suicidal behavior is a challenge that the Health Ministry is paying particular attention to. As Dariusz Poznanski, director of the Department of Public Health at the Ministry of Health, emphasizes, the ministry's efforts are focused on prevention, support for people in mental crisis and inter-ministerial coordination.
- The budget bill includes 3 billion zlotys for psychiatric care and child oncology. These funds will be used to best expand the base of hundreds of outpatient clinics that have been established for several years. An important barrier is the issue of staffing. In the previous financial perspective, with EU funds we managed to educate about a thousand people. Now we also want to continue these tasks. As part of the implementation of the NPZ, by the decision of the Minister, last week a competition procedure was announced for the funding of support lines for children and adolescents in mental crisis," Dariusz Poznański mentioned.
The Ministry of Education in the prevention of suicidal behavior also has a not inconsiderable role to play. For it is necessary to build a system that supports children and adolescents not only in suicidal crises, but in mental health crises.
- I hope that most ministries will be willing to participate in the project to support children and youth. This also applies to refugees. My ministry's position is that we need, in cooperation with NGOs, trade unions, specialists and experts, to educate. Training is needed for teachers. They see that they need this support. It's also a matter of strengthening the competence of specialist teachers. There is a need for measures that will also strengthen cooperation with the family," points out Deputy Education Minister Paulina Piechna-Więckiewicz.
