The last decades have seen a sudden increase in patients admitted to hospital with mental health problems in Poland. In less than twenty years, the number of patients suffering from mental health illnesses has increased almost two-fold. Close to 300,000 mental health patients are now hospitalised on an annual basis.
"We do not know if this growth reflects real prevalence of mental disorders or a rapid increase in demand due to better services and improved access," said Jacek Moskalewicz at the Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology. Despite the soaring growth in mental health admissions, however, a comprehensive study on mental health in Poland has never been carried out. "Until now, mental health policy has been based on incomplete information, overlooking hidden populations of people suffering mental health problems," continued Moskalewicz.
With project support secured from the EEA Grants, a nationwide, internationally comparable study of mental health will now be developed for the first time in Polish history. Trough mapping the regional occurrence of mental health problems in patients, the study will provide policy makers with the required data to make informed decisions on future health policy and services.
The survey will build on a randomly selected sample group of 10,000 adults between the ages of 18 and 65, using CIDI, a research instrument developed by the World Health Organisation. The project partner, Psychiatric Institute Vinderen, have already completed a CIDI study, and will contribute with experience and advice throughout the project. In addition to prevalence statistics, the survey will collect data on opinions regarding access to mental health services and social attitudes towards treatment. When completed, the survey will provide a comprehensive picture of mental health in Poland, while simultaneously identifying administrative and attitudinal barriers to treatment.
According to Moskalewicz, the study will be crucial to the National Mental Health Programme which was adopted in Poland in 2008. "The survey will have a substantial impact on mental health policy in Poland, securing more cost-efficient allocation of resources," he concluded.
The Consortium implementing the project is composed of the Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Warsaw, Department of Psychiatry of Medical Academy in Wrocław and National Institute of Public Health - National Institute of Hygiene, Warsaw.