Mental Health Strengthening Initiative Commenced in Croatia
October 11, 2023 - Mental health concerns loom large for Croatia's citizens. But with a recent development on the horizon, seeking psychological assistance no longer necessitates a GP referral. It's all thanks to the recently launched Croatian Mental Health Empowerment Programme, making waves in healthcare centers across the country.
Yesterday marked World Mental Health Day, a global event celebrated for 70 years with the sole purpose of shining a light on mental health issues. In the EU, Croatia ranks third in the number of individuals dealing with chronic depression, according to reports from HRT. Simultaneously, the country ranks a dismal 14th in the number of psychiatrists per 100,000 residents.
Here's some exciting news: yesterday also saw the launch of mental health empowerment programs at the Zagreb Istok Health Centre and the Split-Dalmatia County Health Centre. The rollout includes teams of clinical psychologists, psychologists, and psychiatric nurses. These expert teams will provide mental health care to those struggling with psychological difficulties. Soon, these centers will open in other areas of Croatia, including Osijek-Baranja and Krapina-Zagorje counties, the Zagreb Zapad Health Centre, and the Čakovec Health Centre, to name a few.
Health Minister Vili Beroš emphasized that the first step towards accepting help is the hardest. With this in mind, Beroš has made it easier for patients to receive specialist psychological support directly from their local health centers. These centers will be the program's custodians, offering comprehensive mental health care to the population. This approach will also utilize mobile teams of professionals for outreach.
The new program forms part of a sweeping reform in Croatia's mental health care system, with plans to create mental health dispensaries in health centers and deploy mobile teams coordinated by the upcoming Public Health Service Network. The enthusiasm of the majority of Croatian counties to join these programs and teams signifies a strong foundation for successfully implementing this reform initiative.
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[1] European Commission. (2018). European Union Action Plan 2016-2020 - Mental Health Union. [online] Available at: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52016DC0828&qid=1596687751445&from=EN [Accessed 10 Oct. 2023].
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[2] Commissioner for Human Rights - Council of Europe. (2018). Human rights dimensions of mental health policies and services in Europe: Encouraging the implementation of the United Nations Riyadh Guidelines. [online] Available at: https://www.coe.int/en/web/commissioner/human-dimensions-of-mental-health [Accessed 10 Oct. 2023].
[3] World Health Organization. (2020). Mental Health Action Plan 2013-2030: Enhancing the promotion of mental health and the prevention and treatment of mental, neurological, substance use disorders. [online] Available at: https://www.who.int/mental_health/action_plan/en/ [Accessed 10 Oct. 2023].
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[4] Mental Health Europe. (2019). Mental Health Workforce in Europe: Making a Difference. [online] Available at: https://www.mhe-sme.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/MHE-Mental-Health-Workforce-in-Europe-Position-Paper.pdf [Accessed 10 Oct. 2023].
[5] Mary Diffley, J., Healy, F., Kearney, J., & Finn, J. F. (2019). Integrating Mental Health into Primary Care: Key Influences and Future Directions in Ireland. International Journal of Mental Health Systems, 13, 57. [online] Available at: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13033-019-0325-5 [Accessed 10 Oct. 2023].
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- The Croatian Mental Health Empowerment Programme, a recent development in health-and-wellness practices, has eliminated the need for GP referrals for seeking psychological assistance.
- According to reports from HRT, Croatia ranks third in the EU for the number of individuals dealing with chronic depression, while simultaneously ranking 14th in the number of psychiatrists per 100,000 residents.
- The new mental health empowerment programs, launched yesterday at the Zagreb Istok Health Centre and the Split-Dalmatia County Health Centre, enlist teams of clinical psychologists, psychologists, and psychiatric nurses to provide mental health care to those struggling with psychological difficulties.
- Science and the field of mental health have been given prominence on World Mental Health Day, a global event celebrated annually, with the aim of shedding light on mental health issues and improving mental health care systems, as demonstrated by Croatia's mental health reform initiatives.
