“Give mental health the attention it deserves” – Poland uses WHO tool to better address mental health needs

Recently, Poland launched the WHO Action Program on Closing Mental Health Care Gaps (mhGAP), an evidence-based approach to expanding mental health capacity and services, as part of its national health program, taking a significant step towards becoming stronger to address the unmet mental health needs of the population.

Poland, like many other countries in the WHO European Region, faces significant challenges in ensuring access to mental health services. 60% of patients who say they need psychological support admit that they do not seek help because of the stigma associated with it. There are only 9 psychiatrists per 100,000 inhabitants in the country, and the waiting lists are long. Only 3.7% of Poland’s healthcare budget is spent on mental health care – a low proportion compared to some other European countries.

Urgent need for better mental health care

Today, Polish children have one of the lowest rates of mental well-being and one of the highest rates of suicide attempts in Europe. In 2022, police investigated a total of 2,031 suicide attempts in the under-18 age group – a 148% increase since 2020.

Recognizing the need for urgent change, the Polish government is taking urgent measures to reform the mental health protection system, including for children and young people. Since 2018, the government has quadrupled spending on child and adolescent mental health to over PLN 1 billion (EUR 200 million) to address prevailing needs.

“In the past, mental health has not received the same attention as physical health, not only in Poland but throughout the WHO European Region. “We are beginning to recognize the cost of this inattention to our society, economy, communities and families,” said Dr. Nino Berdzuli, WHO Representative in Poland and WHO Special Envoy for the Response to the Ukraine Emergency in Refugee Host Countries.

“But the Polish health authorities are now taking action – their current and future plans show that we are on the right track,” added Dr. Berdzuli added.

Mental health has long been viewed as less of a priority than physical health in the region and around the world. Stigma and stereotypes surrounding mental health needs, coupled with inadequate resources for appropriate services and long waiting lists for treatment, have created significant barriers to accessing mental health care in many countries.

Improving access to primary health care

In Poland and throughout the European Region, primary health care represents the entry point into the healthcare system for patients with health problems.

This is also why integrating mental health care into primary health care is one of the most effective ways to reduce unmet mental health needs – through early identification of those at risk, conducting rapid assessment and enabling Referral to appropriate service providers.

“General practitioners need to become frontline actors in community mental health care in Poland, helping to reduce pressure on overburdened mental health services,” said Dr. Berdzuli.

The mhGAP program will equip Polish general practitioners with the knowledge and skills needed to recognize symptoms of common mental illnesses, including depression, stress-related illnesses, substance addiction and suicidal ideation. Specialist training is intended to give them the confidence to treat these conditions or, if necessary, refer patients to psychologists and psychiatrists in community mental health centers.

“This program will bring mental health care closer to people. “It’s about giving mental health the attention it deserves,” added Dr. Berdzuli added.

Poland is the latest country in the region to adopt the mhGAP, joining its neighbor Ukraine, which has also started implementing the toolkit at the national level. More than 100 countries worldwide are already implementing the mhGAP.

“Preparations for the launch of the program began over a year ago and we are now pleased to launch the mhGAP program in Poland. The Ministry of Health is delighted that we have a first pilot group, and the skills and knowledge imparted through the program will be useful for the entire country,” said Joanna Głażewska, Deputy Head of the Public Health Authority.

Initially, the program will be tested in the Poldaskie and Mazovietskie regions, but there are already plans to roll out the program nationwide.

Access is also provided for refugees

The program is also intended to support Ukrainian refugees. A survey conducted by the Polish Central Statistical Office and the WHO country office in Poland found that at least one in ten Ukrainian refugees reported struggling with significant mental health problems, and of those who reported such problems, more than half would benefit from treatment benefit.

“In addition to the Polish population, mental health support will also be extended to the large number of Ukrainian refugees in the country. The mental health and emotional well-being of refugees is an urgent concern and with the generous financial support of the United States Government, WHO and the Polish Ministry of Health have taken proactive steps to address the issue,” explains Dr. Berdzuli.

Mental health is one of the flagship pillars of the European Work Program 2020-2025 (EPW), the blueprint that guides much of WHO/Europe’s work. As part of the EPW, WHO/Europe has created the European Alliance on Mental Health, bringing together a wide range of key stakeholders to advocate for investments in mental health with governments and policy makers.