Psychological and psychiatric consultations are still on the rise

- The overall number of consultations with psychiatrists and psychologists, both for adults and children, has been increasing for the past few years. If we compare the data for the first six months of 2022 with the same period of the previous year, the number of consultations increased by 39.3%, including an increase of 34.8% for adults and of up to 69.8% for children - says Teresa Domańska, Director of TU Zdrowie’s Health Insurance Office.

- The Covid-19 pandemic was the trigger for the growing need for psychological care. During the pandemic, many Poles faced the fear of losing their health and lives, and the suffering after losing loved ones. Added to this was economic uncertainty as a result of the imposed restrictions. After two years and successive waves of the pandemic, we are experiencing new threats. The war in Ukraine and the rapidly rising inflation are fueling fears about our future. This is all taking its toll on our mental health - says Edyta Jacyna, a TU Zdrowie medical consultant.

Difficult life situations, loss of loved ones and work-related stress are all direct factors contributing to the onset of depression. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), depression, along with alcohol abuse disorders, is one of the most common mental disorders worldwide.^[1] The sad statistics show that depression is listed as one of the top 20 causes of disability worldwide. About 9 out of 10 cases of suicide are related to depression.^[2]

Webinars on mental health

- Reaching out for psychological or psychiatric help is slowly becoming less of a taboo subject. A growing number of people are aware that professional help is the best way out of a difficult situation. It is essential to reach out for this help as soon as possible. With the TU Zdrowie insureds in mind, we have launched webinar training courses for our customers, designed to help them identify the problem and its source. The workshops are delivered by psychologists with many years of experience, expert in working with patients with mental disorders, co-occurring diseases, addicts and/or individuals experiencing crises and adaptation difficulties - adds Edyta Jacyna.

The workshop ‘Mental health and elements of stress management’ covers discussion of the red flags of an imminent mental health crisis and where and how to seek help. Participants are shown the symptoms typical of sadness and depression and how to tell them apart. The psychologist explains the differences between available mental health professionals and teaches participants what to consider when choosing one, discusses basic approaches to mental health self-care and the positive and negative effects of stress, and explains to the participants how to assess and control stressful situations. The psychologist is available to answer any questions or address any concerns of workshop participants.

[1] https://www.gov.pl/web/wsse-warszawa/zdrowie-psychiczne

[2] “Sytuacja zdrowotna ludności Polski i jej uwarunkowania 2020.” National Institute of Public Health – National Institute of Hygiene, Warsaw 2020