In Lithuania, accessing appropriate psychological support is still not easy: The Ministry of Health promises significant changes

Sunday, Jul 28, 2024

Delfi

Lithuanian mental health reforms focus on community care, but specialist shortages and fragmentation persist.

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[This is an automatically generated summary, for reference only]

Lithuanian authorities are reforming the mental health care system, focusing on increasing outpatient services and integrating non-medicinal treatments, with over 70 million euros from the EU allocated to this overhaul. Despite increased access to specialists, long waiting times for initial consultations remain a significant issue. Experts highlight critical problems, including a shortage of specialists and low salaries in the public sector compared to private practice, which hinders recruitment. While services exist across various sectors, the care is often fragmented, lacking continuity of treatment with the same specialist. The Ministry of Health is addressing this by building regional psychiatric day stations and introducing mobile community teams. Furthermore, the system is strengthening public mental well-being through initiatives like anonymous consultations and mental health ambassadors. Internationally, Bulgaria faces a severe mental health crisis with a critical shortage of psychiatrists, while Spain struggles with long waiting lists for free mental health services, leading many to seek private care.

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