Mental Health Care in Poland

Background: Like in other industrialized countries, the development of Polish psychiatry has followed a typical trajectory, initially marked by the establishment of large mental health hospitals using an isolation-based care model. Subsequently, there has been a decline in these institutions, characterized by a reduction in the number of hospital beds, and an ongoing evolution toward decentralized community psychiatry, specifically mental health-care centers. The hospitalizations are for emergency/acute care only. The authors describe how clinical services and personnel training in Poland that have been adjusted in response to societal changes and global trends in mental health care. Methods: The authors collected and critically reviewed information based on literature relevant to the organization of mental health care in Poland. In addition, official government publications such as reports from the Central Statistical Office and Ministry of Health were perused to gather data on the population structure, gross domestic product, and the organizational structure of the mental health care and relevant health-care indices. Results: Mental health care in Poland is evolving and gradually improving, providing more opportunities for collaboration and networking among nongovernmental organizations, patients’ associations, and psychiatrists working toward common goals. Training curricula have been updated and/or modified, with new specialty and subspecialty trainings being offered to meet the demands of health-care professionals and patients alike. Conclusion: Demographic changes, the presence of Ukrainian war refugees, and global trends in psychiatry profoundly influence the delivery of mental health-care services in Poland.