Rising demand for help from psychologists and psychiatrists
According to the World Health Organization, depression, along with alcohol abuse disorders, is one of the most common mental disorders in the world, and 9 out of 10 cases of suicide are linked specifically to depression. The demand for psychological and psychiatric help is growing every year. TU Zdrowie data shows that the number of mental health consultations increased by 240% last year versus 2019.
“Reaching out for psychological or psychiatric help is no longer a taboo subject. A growing number of people are aware that specialist help is the best way out of a difficult situation. It is important to reach out for it as soon as possible. Both adults and children seek help from specialists. However, we clearly notice that there is an increase in the number of the youngest users of counseling from psychologists and psychiatrists. While the number of consultations for adults increased by nearly 33% in 2022 compared to the previous year, the number of consultations for children increased by as much as 45%,” says Teresa Domańska, Director of TU Zdrowie’s Healthcare Insurance Office.
Experts stress that in recent years, the higher demand for mental health assistance is due to both the prolonged isolation and anxiety associated with the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as concern over the unstable political and economic situation in the country.
“The war in Ukraine and rapidly rising inflation are adding to the fear of what our tomorrow will look like. All of this takes a toll on our mental health. And if we compare this to the availability of psychiatrists in public health care, we draw a very grim outlook for the treatment of depression in Poland. Underfunding of services and a small number of psychiatrists translates into months- and sometimes even years-long queues for mental health help. Therefore, patients mostly pay for the help of psychologists and psychiatrists out of their own pockets,” stresses Edyta Jacyna, medical consultant at TU Zdrowie.
The scant number of active psychiatrists compared to the needs is also of concern. The Central Register of Physicians shows that the number of child and adolescent psychiatrists in Poland currently barely exceeds 500 [1]. Meanwhile, it is estimated that more than 630,000 children in our country need immediate specialized psychological or psychiatric care [2].
Suicide figures are also alarming. The Police Headquarters reports that in 2021, there were 1,496 suicide attempts among children and adolescents, an increase of more than 100% versus 2017. The number rose to more than 2,000 suicide attempts in 2022.
According to experts, the mental condition of children and adolescents is affected by both the physical and psychological violence they experience at home, as well as social anxieties related to the school environment and bullying by peers.
Furthermore, UNICEF reports that one of the main factors contributing to mental health problems is the lack of caring parental care in early childhood. Worldwide, up to one in two children between the ages of 2 and 17 experience physical, emotional or sexual abuse each year. Children’s emotional development can also be affected by unresolved mental health problems of parents and caregivers. According to estimates, up to 1 in 4 children live with a parent suffering from a mental disorder.[3]
Mental health webinars
“With the TU Zdrowie insureds in mind, we have launched webinar workshops for our clients on how to recognize the problem and identify its source. The workshops are taught by psychologists with years of experience, specializing in working with patients with mental disorders, co-occurring diseases, addicts or those experiencing crises and adaptation difficulties,” adds Edyta Jacyna.
The workshop “Mental Health with Stress Management Elements” covers discussion of warning signs of an impending mental crisis and where and how to seek help. Participants are shown the symptoms typical of sadness and depression and how to distinguish between them. The psychologist explains the differences between available mental health specialists and teaches participants what to consider when choosing one. In addition, basic methods of taking care of mental health on their own are discussed. The positive and negative effects of stress are also discussed, as well as how to evaluate and control stressful situations. The psychologist is happy to answer any questions and concerns of the course participants.
[1] https://nil.org.pl/rejestry/centralny-rejestr-lekarzy/informacje-statystyczne
[2] https://unicef.pl/co-robimy/aktualnosci/news/czas-obalic-mity-dotyczace-zdrowia-psychicznego
[3] ibidem
