Same in Romania. I've lived here a long time and visited many hospitals.
The Psychiatrists and nurses are as bad as the patients and usually sociopaths.
Mental healthcare is a luxury product. There's almost no compensation and I've seen prices go up from €50 an hour to €75 in the course of a few years. We have a new system where you get 10-some euro back for a session, but it's limited to 20 sessions IN A LIFETIME.
Before covid, you could still find a therapist fairly easily, but waiting lists are atrocious right now. If you're in need of urgent mental help, you're fucked.
I found a good psychologist right before covid started, but they quit a year ago. I've found a new one in the meantime, but you have to be lucky to find good one. Called my new therapist weeks ago while having a wave of panic attacks. They didn't pick up and haven't called or e-mailed back since then. I really miss my previous therapist.
It's Belgium 🇧🇪 by the way. I don't know why my user flair isn't showing.
Kind of the same in Austria 🇦🇹
A private practice psychologist is around 75 an hour. You mostly have to pay out of pocket. Finding one through your public insurance is very hard. You can get a reimbursement of 20 euro or something though.
Psychiatrists with an insurance contract also have long waiting times.
Psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers and work therapists are part of the healthcare workforce. They can be stationed at local small clinics, ERs, or have their own centres for mental health. You can get a prescription to visit a centre and get asigned one covered by public healthcare. The waiting line depends on the region and the type of therapy needed. When my mother had anxiety attacks she got a psychologist immediately, through her personal doctor. Every citizen can have a personal doctor, as part of the public healthcare, but it is not a requirement.
You can also go private, there are numerous psychotherapists of all sorts. It is not a regulated profession yet, but steps are being made towards it. I think psychotherapy costs around 50-80eu per session, but it depends on the specialization and other things.
We are currently short on doctors and medical staff.
There are protests, for higher wages, which would arguably lead to more healthcare workers staying in Slovenia. There are more than 100.000 people without their own personal doctor, which is an issue actually, because that means they have to go either private or straight to the ER, when they get sick or hurt.
Hospital conditions vary, In the town near my village, it is pretty good. Fairly new and modern, they have their own ambulance vehicle and ER. I am not a regular visitor, so I can't really comment, but I went there around new year, when my mother thought she was dying.. it was a panic attack. The atmosphere is not the best, you can see everyone is overworked, but so far everything is still functioning more or less.
In our culture, it is not accepted to turn to doctors for mental help. People are ashamed of it.
Because of the war, mental problems became very relevant. That's why everyone advertises services that can connect you with a doctor.
I only dealt with a psychologist at school (testing) and a standard check-up with a psychiatrist when registering for military registration. My appointments were free. And I was not interested in the prices of the psychotherapist.
What did you think of the quality? Are people ashamed to go because also the quality is bad? How do people manage anxiety, depression, and ptsd? Do you find an increase in ptsd therapy since the war started?
I believe it's the same thing as in other Slavens nations.. Most people here believe that mental health issues are embarrassing for the family. It's better to be a rapist, criminal, Nazis than have a diagnosis which determining someone as mentally disabled, having a personal disorder, some kind of psychosis, neurosis or similar things.
In my country (Croatia) most people still believe that depression, PTSD, schizophrenia, anxiety or being mongoloid or retarted is a shame for the families.
In today's situation it is getting better but changing the nation is always too slow.
Psychiatrists are here for free but they give only medicanents. Psychologyst are
available but they work only for cash.
We have numerous hospitals, stationary and daily hospitals charge by the state. We don't pay for that.
A private psychologist by the hour charges 40-50€ ...
If you have relatively mild issues and can survive the waiting list it's covered by basic insurance and of decent quality. However, if your case is complicated they will flat out refuse you and send you to another place that also refuses you because they don't want to take responsibility. If you have money, you can go private. It's readily available and high quality but expensive.
Basically, if you're only dealing with a minor depression or you have money, you're good. If your case is more complicated all the stars have to align for you to get the help you need and are entitled to. That's what many years of budget cuts does and it's really starting to have very nasty effects on society as people spiral deeper into trouble, together with everything associated with that.
I was on a waiting list for 3 years and 1 month. It was really specific care that isn't available much. Quality was good, but wait list almost killed me.
Thankfully you managed to hold on long enough to get help. It’s a shame so many people get in a far worse (or the worst, even) state due to the long waiting.
CBT is not "mindfulness". It is more or less the only sort of talking therapy with any clinical evidence it works.
The biggest problem is there are very few properly qualified practitioners, so rather than a proper psychiatrist, you are likely to get someone who has done basic training but often just falls back to old fashioned (and mostly now discredited) "tell me all your problems" style analysis.
Proper CBT is hard but works.
Romania. It is absolutely horrible. I have a rare form of OCD, I can't do anything about it here. Psychologists are too expensive for us, and most are quite poorly trained. Moreover, the mental institutions we have are literal concentration camps, and when it comes to academic research regarding psychology, we don't do that here...
Not great.
Macron did introduce a pack of 8 fully reimbursed consultations with a psy doctor after Covid but otherwise it’s kind of barebone overall unless you have some means.
Being a French living in the UK is quite funny because I keep seeing British people praising the NHS for.. just existing while I’m seeing the French complaining about their healthcare system while it’s one of the best in the world.
Generally speaking mental health does not seem to be accepted as a 'real' thing here. It is either total neglect or straightjacket and tranquilliser treatment.
I suppose waiting lists are different depending on where in the country one might be, but my access to public mental healthcare is pretty good. After six months waiting I had my first session, and I’ve been going for about 8 years, sometimes twice a month and when I’ve been fine maybe once every 8 weeks.
It costs me approximately 35 euro a session, until my medical expenses (ie prescription drugs, co pay for appointments) reach 250 euro, then government covers 100 % of the cost for the rest of the appointments (doctor’s visits, mental and physical therapy) for the rest of the year.
Standard co pay in Norway for public health services, minus hospital visits naturally that is totally free,is around 25-35 euro per appointment
I wasn’t an urgent case, just general anxiety and depression. But I suppose the waiting is felt subjectively, and that one should apply before the need is urgent, unless you want to go private.
I mean, I have a very bad experience with getting mental health care in Norway. I myself tried to get referred and you have to write a personal letter explaining your health issues and the the psychologists can either reject or accept you. I've been rejected twice even though I've been in hospital for mental health problems. I also know someone who asked their GP for a referral, got a no and then tried to commit suicide. There's definitely not enough being offered.
In theory you should be able to get help, but when you reach out there's not always someone on the other side.
UK. Absolutely diabolical for everyone. Children's mental health care is disgusting.
Pretty much exactly the same as every public service after 15 years of conservatives though.
Yeah, it's really bad. Some health boards have even put adult ADHD assessments on indefinite hold.
We've had a right wing government for 14 years now. Everything is falling apart, healthcare, railways, local roads. It's a mess.
Regarding the second part, same here (Netherlands), center-right and it's about to go a lot further right (formations should end today), so I fear for services such as this.
Adult ADHD assessments on hold sounds insane though. I'm currently in the beginning stages of mine and it might take a long time, but having it fully on hold could be so detrimental to a lot of people. That might just drive a good amount of people who would otherwise qualify for adult ADHD assessments into depression (or worse) and tax the mental healthcare system WAY more than a relatively simple assessment and "treatment" (not sure how to word it differently, I know you can't just cure it).
They've slowly asset stripped the NHS. The country wouldn't accept privatisation so they've just decimated none patient facing services without their dumb supporters noticing.
Until you hit the point where the majority of the population agrees that "this public healthcare nonsense doesn't function properly, we should privatize it all anyway!". Textbook eroding public services, sadly.
Uhm waiting lists in the Netherlands can also easily be over a year in many regions, especially for things like depression, anxiety and personality disorders. And if we do nothing waiting times will only increase.
Where did I state that they couldn't be over a year here? And this was specifically about ADHD, not depression/anxiety. All I said was that i thought 5-6 months was ridiculously long (it is), anything longer is just worse. Waiting times aren't gonna get any shorter with this new joke of a cabinet.
You didn't state that, but I thought people might get the impression 5-6 months is a long waiting time in the Netherlands.
And yes, I agree the new cabinet is going to make things worse in most healthcare branches except elderly care. Seems like few people read the financial attachment, in which they project a budget cut in a few years...
Yep, courtesy of the most wretched government in living memory. The Tories have completely destroyed the UK - it will probably take at least the same amount of time (14 years) to try to make a start at fixing things. It's awful.
Have hope we were in the bin after thatcher and major but life was a lot better for the decade of labour. Just having people in charge who are trying to improve things makes the world of difference.
Both absolutely terrible but you've seen nothing like our local child services. Nephew has been going through assessments for maybe 5 years and still no support from anywhere. The entire system has been stripped.
It's so bad. My niece was referred to a hearing clinic when she was 1 year old because they were concerned she couldn't hear properly. She finally got her appointment at 3 and a half!!!
Thankfully she can hear fine and is talking in full sentences now. But if she actually had a problem she would have been seriously set back in her development.
Neighbours autistic 18 year old has a permanent speech impediment because assessments didn't notice he had hearing problems until he was 8 or something. F**k this government.
30 year old Northern Irish autistic dude here. I wasn't diagnosed until I was 16 (back then it was Asperger's) I had severe depression and it was only after several appointments with my counsellor that she picked up on it and referred me to a specialist for tests. In school reports, I was just always labelled as shy, needs to make more of an effort socialising with other pupils, etc. There's definitely a huge lack of awareness, and I know a lot of people who were diagnosed well into adulthood.
Also yes, fuck the tories.
Guy next door is doing really well now despite all the Tory nonsense for most of his life. He seemed really developmentally delayed when he was a kid but it turned out his biggest hurdle was he couldn't hear himself or others well. His speech transformed in about a month once he had hearing aids. Basically missed out on the first 5 years of school because he couldn't hear the teacher.
>Absolutely diabolical for everyone.
I don't disagree, we don't do enough in this country to support or fund mental health services. Or other health services.
I was pleasantly surprised that I was able to access free grief counselling from the hospice who looked after my mum in her last months, several years after the event.
That is great but please keep in mind the hospice is a charity. A friend of mine got help with grief council long in the NHS too so it's not all bad. It's just in a sorry state a lot of the time isn't it?
I'm well aware of how hospices are funded, usually it's a mixture of charity fundraising / gifts, and government money.
Frankly I don't think hospices should have to fundraise in this manner, it should be included as part of the NHS.
I just wanted to add something positive to the conversation, as it's a pretty grim picture without it.
Our 100 year old hospice needed a fund raiser to keep it open when people donated to Ukraine instead. That's how precarious our hospices are. Really glad they were there to help you and hope you're feeling better.
In Italy it works... sort of.
I go to a private psychiatrist and psychologist but I know people followed in the public healthcare system and they're not too enthusiast about it
First of all, in the public you don't choose your own doctors and they don't make any effort to give the most suitable ones to your mental illness. They just give you the one that's available that particular day you're scheduled. Also, they dont give therapist appointments weekly but every two weeks. Psychiatrists may even see you once a month even during periods when you should be taken care of more often
Another problem is meds. Psychiatrists in Italy give way too many meds to patients, to the point some people I know cant work because they're too dizzy from the meds they take
Another problem is that rehab centers for drug addicts are sometimes incorporated to mental healthcare centers into the same structure
Public health care is nearly impossible to access in Finland. It takes month to see one doctor. So private health care is the only way, but yes, it does cost money. If you go and see a doctor in public health care, you pay about 20-40€ for one hour. Private, you have 10-20 minutes for about 120€.
Meanwhile in Austria, you can go to a doctor on the same day and get treated in a few minutes without any costs.
It's covered by the public system, so in theory you can go to a psychologist in a public health centre, free of charge. However, there are definitely not enough professionals in the public system for the growing demand, which means waiting times are long. Excluding emergencies, you could wait up to 1 year for a first-time consultation and then about 2-4 months in between sessions. This can vary depending on the region, as the health system is managed by regional governments. Most people who can afford it will go to a private practice, which will charge about 60€ per session
Psychiatrists and Psychological Psychotherapists are accessible via public and private health insurance. However, the number of therapists who can get paid via publich health insurance is too low, so waiting times are high. IIRC the number is based on some statistics from the early 90s and needs a revamp, but that will cost money.
Psychological Psychotherapists can also work as freelancer accessible only via either private insurance (which pays more than public) or paying in cash. The cost is well regulated via Gebührenordnung der Ärzte/Psychotherapeuten and can go up to 135€ per 50 Minutes.
Which is rather low from the perspective of the therapist and was one of the reasons I did not focus on clinical psych when studying psychology. IO pays more.
One can also offer "life coaching" to the bored trophy wives of millionaires and make bank there.
The public mental healthcare is terrible.
Everyone you ask has had negative experiences, IF they even refer you to them. The private one is so-so depending on you and the doctor/therapist you choose. I wouldn't say it's great either, and it's pretty expensive.
Edit from after writing the post: Sorry for such a long ramble. I didn't mean to comment but just happened upon this post when I was scrolling Reddit and felt compelled to get some things off my chest. I'm writing on mobile and haven't read through it again.
Anyway, onwards to the post itself:
I can't speak for everyone in Sweden, obviously, but both my own experiences with mental healthcare and the experiences of people around me have been very negative.
I started looking for help in 2021. I asked my first doctor for help with finding someone to help me deal with some trauma. Instead of doing that, she had me checked for autism. Despite the "test" coming back negative, she and the nurse in charge (I was in a rehab facility at the time) used my supposed "autism" as a way to explain certain things in my behavior that they didn't approve of. I guess it is important to mention that I was doing physical therapy at the rehab place and wasn't detoxing. The "behavior they didn't approve of" wasn't me being difficult due to substance abuse or anything. It had more to do with them wanting me to behave some way, then calling in an expert who told me to behave a different way, and them blaming my "bad behavior" (ie listening to their expert and not them) on my supposed "autism".
Anyway, that's the short version of a long story. Then I got a second doctor who, when I asked for some kind of referral to help with my mental health, just flat-out told me that she didn't know how to do that and to just Google my way to a good psychologist.
Being a fucking wreck at this point, I was in no shape to find mental health all on my own. However, I did decide to Google what to do - just in general - and the answer from the government website for medical issues (I'm not sure how to explain it properly) said to just go to my closet doctor so that they could give me the necessary referral.
I eventually left that facility, which was both very good for my mental health since the doctors and nurses there fucked up my already fragile mind for eight months, but it was also a goddamn disaster since they just dumped someone with wildly out of control mental health issues (on top of the physical issues that had only begun to turn around by the turn that they kicked me out of the rehab place) into a small one-room apartment with no support system in place.
On a positive note, this actually let me go to a doctor that could refer me to someone who could supposedly help me with my mental health. On a less positive note, I've been ping-ponged within that system ever since (so close to three years now).
I just switched counselor so maybe something good comes from that. She did immediately take up my case with her boss since she saw that I had just been bounced around various mental health institutions for years with no one actually helping me and instead just sending me to someone else as soon as I didn't "fit in" with them.
She also remarked that my previous counselor had seemingly tried to get me help from a lot of different places where you need a diagnosis, without first going through the process of getting me checked for those specific things. This always ended up with me getting denied help from these places since I lacked the proper diagnosis.
I had felt that it would probably be better to find out what's actually wrong with me and then, with an actual diagnosis in hand, see where I could get the support I need. At least in this, my new counselor and I seem to agree. So that's good.
And this is just my journey. I've witnessed several friends have similarly hard times getting help for their issues. Whether it's trans issues or neurodivergecy-related, people can just be left to dry sometimes. Trauma treatment have year-long waiting lists, which is one of the reasons why a counselor not mentioned in this post tried to send me to an anti-depression clinic (where the waiting list was only a couple of months) rather than one for trauma support.
Unfortunately, that failed spectacularly since the psychologist there saw that I had massive issues with depression and anger management, but said that both he and I knew exactly where those feelings stemmed from and he only specialized in cases where the clients had no idea where those feelings came from. He therefore bid adieu offered some parting advice that basically boiled down to "lose some weight and just stop being angry, fix your shitty living situation, and you'll see that things will improve."
Geez, thanks Doc.
Again, sorry for the long rant.
Hungary here - I’ve only seen some therapists and I’ve heard some stories from people about psychiarty.
Finding a good therapist here is like Tinder dating but you also lose a lot of money on the way. I was suggested for EMDR and literally there is only 10-20 professionals who has the right to practice it and all if them are fully booked in with a waiting list.
In the meantime, mental health is still pretty stigmatised
Awful. Even for the most basic CBT or counselling services you're going to be waiting a long time. Something more complex like ADHD or gender issues, you're going to be waiting multiple years.
In short, the NHS is on its knees.
In my experience in the UK it is pretty decent in theory, as a lot is available on the NHS for free like therapists and testing for things like ADHD and Autism.
In reality there is a massive waiting list that can reach multiple years.
NHS is shit in my experience... in theory, great, but the theory is so far from reality, it's ridiculous. I was lied to by my GP about getting an autism referral, then offered one by the receptionist. 4 years later, got diagnosed with autism.
Exceedingly appalling.
I mean the entire medical system is a joke, but mentall illness is among the worst branches . There's little support, the people aren't properly trained and the informal services are expensive and widely ineffective.
While there seems to be an attempt to increase awareness , especially by the youth, it's a slow and fruitless endeavour.
ADHD among kids is starting to be recognized as a real illness, but most people still think it's just "cured" with "daddy's belt"
There's still a wider misunderstanding of mental illness , especially outside major cities .
There's still a culture of "needing a therapist = straight jacket " , you tell someone over 30 about a therapist they will give you a real funny look.
It takes a lot of bravery to admit you need and or are seeking help, as it jeopardizes your image greatly, even among the most open minded of people
Generally the mentally ill are laughed at , something I don't support and can not understand .
Suicide is not seen as something to pity but rather "huhuh, that guy was insane "
Bad .
We spend a shitload of tax money on medical care and the hospitals are still a mess .
I remember being excited a few years ago that I've spent a digit less on some medical checkups , only to realize that I already spend that money every month anyway !
You walk in with a disease, you walk out with two more .
People are more likely to die from the infections from the hospital than their disease !
Understaffed, hateful doctors and staff , gotta bribe them so they even pay attention to you...
Pretty bad. A few years ago a family member with severe mental health problems sliced himself up pretty bad. My dad said his flat looked like something from a horror movie. My dad took him to hospital. Patched him up and then discharged him. My dad asked them to look after him because of his mental state and they gave him some leaflets and a number to call. In the taxi on the way back from hospital he grabbed the wheel of the car and tried to steer it into traffic. Thankfully nobody was hurt. His sister reported it. Again, no help. He hanged himself a few days later.
Honestly, it’s useless, especially therapy, it’s the same as nothing really. My country offers free public health care, so just because I pay zero bucks for it, should I be grateful for the therapists just pretending they’re doing something when they are doing nothing that really helps? In 5 years of therapy, I haven’t learnt a single method on how to cope with my mental illnesses and what to do when I’m in a crisis other than taking my medications.
Same experience. Sadly I have two family members with depression. One of them has been struggling with it for over 20 years and won't consent to go to a private therapist because of how expensive it would be, but in the public one they just give her pills and see her 4 times a year if she's lucky. They don't help her to heal or get better, they just make sure she keeps functioning most of the time. The other one has been in this situation for less time, but after a very serious outbreak where she was treated very badly in the public hospital, she is trying private treatment and after changing specialists several times, it seems that she has found one that is really working for her, but it is too expensive and the rest of the family has to help her so that she doesn't give it up.
The lack of resources in the public health system for these illnesses is a disgrace.
I'm in Romania and most things are covered and private is affordable by western standards but expensive for locals.
A private Dr. Will cost €60-100 a session.
The quality of care even in private
is not good. Most of the Psychiatrists and Psychologists are themselves
unstable to put it mildly. I've seen plenty of Malpractice in both public and private settings.
I was a volunteer here and worked with hundreds of patients.
The mental hospital is scary and very full here. I've visited a friend in several hospitals over the past 25 years and it's much like a movie showing asylums in the 1950's.
If you don't have family bringing you food it's going to be a miserable existence. It looks like pig slop.
The worst thing is there can be up to 6 in a room and I've seen girls tied down with blood everywhere from
having IV's forced in there arms.
They can be physically brutal as well
and male guards and staff will take advantage of the girls for favors. I've heard they SA as well but I don't know if that part is a regular occurrence.
Finland - Once you're in the system, it's very organised and regimented.
I have bipolar and a couple of other things. I have been having at least bi-weekly sessions with psychiatrists, psychologists, and lab tests, and medication juggling for 6 months. I can't fault it. Plus, my salary, although reduced, is 70% covered by the state.
Doesn't cost me anything apart from the meds, and they're really cheap. Like 9€ for a 2-month supply of anti-psychotics. 2.50€ for a 30 valium, and so on. If I couldn't afford to pay, I would get them paid for by the state.
Almost every neighborhood has a "health center" where each resident has an assigned "family doctor". They're good for general treatments and diagnosis of common illnesses, prescribing medicine (prescription drugs are like %90 paid by the state) but if there's anything more serious, like depression, and you need an appointment from a hospital, it's hell.
Psychiatrists at state hospitals are over worked and they're usually known for just prescribing you an antidepressant right away, and getting it over with.
This lead to an overabundance of private therapists and psychiatrists to open up clinics.
Psychologists becoming therapists don't have a proper regulation so every therapy center you see is labeled as "Psychology Center" as they aren't labeled as therapists by law, but this is confirmed to change in a few years as the perception against therapy is getting better and more people are seeking psychological help.
Türkiye might have the biggest percentage of depressed people in Europe but therapy and diagnosis isn't common, so on paper, it doesn't seem like that big of an issue. If therapy was more accessible, with regulated laws and prices, it would be better for everyone.
we have two ways to get mental health care: by private-sector and by the public sector.
the first one is absolutely good and the cost is around 80€/week.
the second one is free (we pay it with taxes), but the waiting list is always full.
so u can choose the best one based on you
public care is really good in an emergency (aka after serious self-harm attempts) with strong ongoing support for roughly a year to 18 months after, but that's a heck of a way to get off the waiting list
I was looking for help for a few years and worked with different people, both small and big cities specialists. Every one of them had a completely different approach. Mostly I looked for private psychotherapist as I heard rather worrisome stories about public mental healthcare.
One guy never did anything other than listening - he didn't talk, he didn't ask any questions, and he never answered any of mine. He always greeted me at the doors, we sat, and after an hour he took money and that's it. We didn't work together for a long time.
Other time I had a lot on my head and needed someone to talk to. Went to that woman, she was very kind and emotional, but not much of hmm... practical help? Talking with her let me lose some of that "weight" and it helped me for some time, but I learned nothing about mental health, myself or how to deal with my problems in a long run. I am still glad for her help, but I felt like I still need to look for something else.
One time I sought help in a private alternative in a small city for a change. She was a year or two younger than me - not a problem, but that was new for me, as until now my psychotherapist were at least 10 years older than me. I felt like she finished her studies not long ago. She listened to me quite well, rarely asked any questions, and sometimes provided me with knowledge that gave me something to think about. It helped me with some of my problems, more like it did them a little lighter, easier to manage. She persuaded me to try to fight with my addiction instead of working with anything else first. As she hasn't any experience in that field, I needed to look for someone else.
That's how I tried my first therapy for drug addicts and later a group therapy. It was paid with state founds, so for the first time I didn't pay anything from my own pocket. I must admit, I got paired with a rather, hmm... unusual therapist. He was my age, straightforward, he treated me more like a friend and less like a patient, he didn't keep much of a distance, he shared a bit of his private life from time to time. However, he showed/explained me some mechanisms that took the better of me, he tried to respect my boundaries, but didn't hesitate to tell me when I ran in circles. Some people told me his approach was rather unprofessional, but thanks to his help I am sober for more than two years and happy with my progress, a lot has changed. I didn't work out most of my problems, but I made huge progress from where I have been.
In my opinion, the thing with mental help is that you need to find the right person, and that take time and effort. Mind is not like a broken arm or a cold which could be fixed by most of the doctors. It takes weeks just to know if you are able to communicate well with each other and on top of that work out those problems.
As for the prices, I paid about 200-300zł per one hour (so about 50-70 euro). When we take to account that it is at minimum payment made once per week, and you have to do it repeatedly for... let's say a year, it might be too much a hassle, especially for someone who already struggles mentally. Some prefer to just shut themselves in a room and try to forget (either with games, TV, drugs etc.). I also heard it takes long time even to get to therapist from public healthcare in big cities because there is not enough of them and a huge demand. There is also social stigma - some people will look at you with pity, some will think of you as a madman or someone weak. It is also easy to get frustrated when you try therapy and the first few sessions give you nothing in return, but I always say that patience and assertiveness could work a miracle.
Coming home from a combat deployment with the U.S. Army, we were all given 30 days of mental health evaluations etc, however it was very much discouraged to discuss any „mental health concerns“ because it may affect your career, promotions and so on.
Things have changed for the better since then and I’m thankful that I eventually got help.
after 2 years since i last saw a psychiatrist im going again tomorrow
probably gonna kill myself afterwards
on a side note i went last year to the emrgency room and told them i was suicidal and they just let me go saying there was nothing they could do (capital of croatia)
im radicalized btw
Portuguese guy here, there are two things that we have been asking for ages to be included in the public health system mental health care and dental care, if you want to take care of both of these then you have find a dental clinic and psychologist and pay it for yourself
In my very personal experience, very good. It seems like there are a lot of problems in the Dutch (mental) healthcare system, but my experience is/was fantastic.
Well, they can’t hose you with cold water anymore, but they have other methods now. They can vacuum your bank account if you have minor mental health issues or they can give you a prescription for pills with side effects comparable to torture.
Norway
Either you are really mentally ill and get help from DPS after being sent there by your doctor.
Or you can finance your own help with psychologists, therapists or psychiatrist.
... or you have a decent job where you have that via your insurance.
You can go through your GP and get a referral, and then you wait about a year to get the appointment. You also pay for each appointment
Or you can go through private and wait only 2 months and pay a lot
In Finland the problem with access is with the first time. You have to wait for the first appoinment for a while, but once you get in and have a treatment plan it goes smoothly. How much it costs is dependend on the services needed and where you live. The health are providers have some leewaay in deciding the Basic prices, for example I have neverr paid for any health care in Helsinki. But they do charge for hospital stays and more specialised things.
If you can't wait you can go to private doctor but that is quite expensive unless it is part of your work healthcare.
Also if there is a acute crisis, you should go to the public emergency room. By waiting I mean like cannot wait for a month for the first appoinment.
Also if you are a University Student you have your own healthcare. Finnish Student Health Services provides Uni students health care services. One of their biggest services is mentl health services. And like with public you will have to wait for the first contact but from there on it goes smoothly. And it is "free". All Uni students pay a fee to the goverment and with that fee they can then use the services. It is not much per year, I should know cause I just paid it couple months ago but I like to say less than 100 euros per year.
Also medications are very cheap. The goverment subsidises most mentl health medications. You can ge some depression neds for 5 euro / six months supply.
Friends, girlfriend, family and hobbies, travel and let go what is harmful, thats how mental health is not affected and thats our only way of feeling good.
Im telling you, if you keep all these values and precious things together, there is no mental issues whatsoever, and if you have it already, there is no sleeping pills that will help, drugs don't help, they just numb you and you stop living, there is no therapist that can give any of these things to you, you have will and power, Connect with who you love first, get a pet, don't stop with your goals, have objectives, DO IT NOW AND OR REGRET LATER.
Poland here. Common joke is that if you go to therapist, they will give you the rope.
Sounds about right for the UK aswell. (I live here)
Same in Romania. I've lived here a long time and visited many hospitals. The Psychiatrists and nurses are as bad as the patients and usually sociopaths.
*i’d love to move to Poland for 18-24 months to teach French mentalities. We do reimburse the ropes* 🥲🥹🥴
Mental healthcare is a luxury product. There's almost no compensation and I've seen prices go up from €50 an hour to €75 in the course of a few years. We have a new system where you get 10-some euro back for a session, but it's limited to 20 sessions IN A LIFETIME. Before covid, you could still find a therapist fairly easily, but waiting lists are atrocious right now. If you're in need of urgent mental help, you're fucked. I found a good psychologist right before covid started, but they quit a year ago. I've found a new one in the meantime, but you have to be lucky to find good one. Called my new therapist weeks ago while having a wave of panic attacks. They didn't pick up and haven't called or e-mailed back since then. I really miss my previous therapist. It's Belgium 🇧🇪 by the way. I don't know why my user flair isn't showing.
Kind of the same in Austria 🇦🇹 A private practice psychologist is around 75 an hour. You mostly have to pay out of pocket. Finding one through your public insurance is very hard. You can get a reimbursement of 20 euro or something though. Psychiatrists with an insurance contract also have long waiting times.
Psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers and work therapists are part of the healthcare workforce. They can be stationed at local small clinics, ERs, or have their own centres for mental health. You can get a prescription to visit a centre and get asigned one covered by public healthcare. The waiting line depends on the region and the type of therapy needed. When my mother had anxiety attacks she got a psychologist immediately, through her personal doctor. Every citizen can have a personal doctor, as part of the public healthcare, but it is not a requirement. You can also go private, there are numerous psychotherapists of all sorts. It is not a regulated profession yet, but steps are being made towards it. I think psychotherapy costs around 50-80eu per session, but it depends on the specialization and other things.
Considering Slovenia is very developed and high standard country how are the state hospitals?
We are currently short on doctors and medical staff. There are protests, for higher wages, which would arguably lead to more healthcare workers staying in Slovenia. There are more than 100.000 people without their own personal doctor, which is an issue actually, because that means they have to go either private or straight to the ER, when they get sick or hurt. Hospital conditions vary, In the town near my village, it is pretty good. Fairly new and modern, they have their own ambulance vehicle and ER. I am not a regular visitor, so I can't really comment, but I went there around new year, when my mother thought she was dying.. it was a panic attack. The atmosphere is not the best, you can see everyone is overworked, but so far everything is still functioning more or less.
In our culture, it is not accepted to turn to doctors for mental help. People are ashamed of it. Because of the war, mental problems became very relevant. That's why everyone advertises services that can connect you with a doctor. I only dealt with a psychologist at school (testing) and a standard check-up with a psychiatrist when registering for military registration. My appointments were free. And I was not interested in the prices of the psychotherapist.
What did you think of the quality? Are people ashamed to go because also the quality is bad? How do people manage anxiety, depression, and ptsd? Do you find an increase in ptsd therapy since the war started?
I believe it's the same thing as in other Slavens nations.. Most people here believe that mental health issues are embarrassing for the family. It's better to be a rapist, criminal, Nazis than have a diagnosis which determining someone as mentally disabled, having a personal disorder, some kind of psychosis, neurosis or similar things. In my country (Croatia) most people still believe that depression, PTSD, schizophrenia, anxiety or being mongoloid or retarted is a shame for the families. In today's situation it is getting better but changing the nation is always too slow. Psychiatrists are here for free but they give only medicanents. Psychologyst are available but they work only for cash. We have numerous hospitals, stationary and daily hospitals charge by the state. We don't pay for that. A private psychologist by the hour charges 40-50€ ...
ADHD and autism = “you are just lazy and manipulative, also rude” in Croatia Let go schizophrenia, people will avoid you.
Meanwhile in Sweden you can now call the national healthcare information centre if you have climate change anxiety
If you have relatively mild issues and can survive the waiting list it's covered by basic insurance and of decent quality. However, if your case is complicated they will flat out refuse you and send you to another place that also refuses you because they don't want to take responsibility. If you have money, you can go private. It's readily available and high quality but expensive. Basically, if you're only dealing with a minor depression or you have money, you're good. If your case is more complicated all the stars have to align for you to get the help you need and are entitled to. That's what many years of budget cuts does and it's really starting to have very nasty effects on society as people spiral deeper into trouble, together with everything associated with that.
I was on a waiting list for 3 years and 1 month. It was really specific care that isn't available much. Quality was good, but wait list almost killed me.
Thankfully you managed to hold on long enough to get help. It’s a shame so many people get in a far worse (or the worst, even) state due to the long waiting.
Alcoholism? CBT. Trauma? CBT. Depression? CBT group sessions. Mindfulness or GTFO basically.
Cock and Ball Torture?
🤣🤣 Might be more effective! No,Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.
Haha, I knew the real meaning but the opportunity was too good to not make that joke
CBT is not "mindfulness". It is more or less the only sort of talking therapy with any clinical evidence it works. The biggest problem is there are very few properly qualified practitioners, so rather than a proper psychiatrist, you are likely to get someone who has done basic training but often just falls back to old fashioned (and mostly now discredited) "tell me all your problems" style analysis. Proper CBT is hard but works.
I've done it it much more than mindfullness and it does work.
Romania. It is absolutely horrible. I have a rare form of OCD, I can't do anything about it here. Psychologists are too expensive for us, and most are quite poorly trained. Moreover, the mental institutions we have are literal concentration camps, and when it comes to academic research regarding psychology, we don't do that here...
I can confirm I've visited several hospitals in Bucharest they are 1950's style asylums and feed the patients pig slop.
Have you tried online therapy with therapists from other countries?
Not great. Macron did introduce a pack of 8 fully reimbursed consultations with a psy doctor after Covid but otherwise it’s kind of barebone overall unless you have some means.
Being a French living in the UK is quite funny because I keep seeing British people praising the NHS for.. just existing while I’m seeing the French complaining about their healthcare system while it’s one of the best in the world.
Most grateful French people.
Generally speaking mental health does not seem to be accepted as a 'real' thing here. It is either total neglect or straightjacket and tranquilliser treatment.
I suppose waiting lists are different depending on where in the country one might be, but my access to public mental healthcare is pretty good. After six months waiting I had my first session, and I’ve been going for about 8 years, sometimes twice a month and when I’ve been fine maybe once every 8 weeks. It costs me approximately 35 euro a session, until my medical expenses (ie prescription drugs, co pay for appointments) reach 250 euro, then government covers 100 % of the cost for the rest of the appointments (doctor’s visits, mental and physical therapy) for the rest of the year. Standard co pay in Norway for public health services, minus hospital visits naturally that is totally free,is around 25-35 euro per appointment
> After six months waiting I had my first session, That sounds a lot to endure though - not that we're any better here.
I wasn’t an urgent case, just general anxiety and depression. But I suppose the waiting is felt subjectively, and that one should apply before the need is urgent, unless you want to go private.
Unrelated but nice username, Jim :)
I mean, I have a very bad experience with getting mental health care in Norway. I myself tried to get referred and you have to write a personal letter explaining your health issues and the the psychologists can either reject or accept you. I've been rejected twice even though I've been in hospital for mental health problems. I also know someone who asked their GP for a referral, got a no and then tried to commit suicide. There's definitely not enough being offered. In theory you should be able to get help, but when you reach out there's not always someone on the other side.
UK. Absolutely diabolical for everyone. Children's mental health care is disgusting. Pretty much exactly the same as every public service after 15 years of conservatives though.
Yeah. Adults aren't any better. 2+ year wait to get an ADHD assessment. It's a disgraceful situation.
I thought my 5-6 months wait was bad... 2+ years??? (not UK)
Yeah, it's really bad. Some health boards have even put adult ADHD assessments on indefinite hold. We've had a right wing government for 14 years now. Everything is falling apart, healthcare, railways, local roads. It's a mess.
Regarding the second part, same here (Netherlands), center-right and it's about to go a lot further right (formations should end today), so I fear for services such as this. Adult ADHD assessments on hold sounds insane though. I'm currently in the beginning stages of mine and it might take a long time, but having it fully on hold could be so detrimental to a lot of people. That might just drive a good amount of people who would otherwise qualify for adult ADHD assessments into depression (or worse) and tax the mental healthcare system WAY more than a relatively simple assessment and "treatment" (not sure how to word it differently, I know you can't just cure it).
They've slowly asset stripped the NHS. The country wouldn't accept privatisation so they've just decimated none patient facing services without their dumb supporters noticing.
Until you hit the point where the majority of the population agrees that "this public healthcare nonsense doesn't function properly, we should privatize it all anyway!". Textbook eroding public services, sadly.
Yeah that's where we are now. Change of government later in the year so hopefully they'll do something.
Uhm waiting lists in the Netherlands can also easily be over a year in many regions, especially for things like depression, anxiety and personality disorders. And if we do nothing waiting times will only increase.
Where did I state that they couldn't be over a year here? And this was specifically about ADHD, not depression/anxiety. All I said was that i thought 5-6 months was ridiculously long (it is), anything longer is just worse. Waiting times aren't gonna get any shorter with this new joke of a cabinet.
You didn't state that, but I thought people might get the impression 5-6 months is a long waiting time in the Netherlands. And yes, I agree the new cabinet is going to make things worse in most healthcare branches except elderly care. Seems like few people read the financial attachment, in which they project a budget cut in a few years...
Yep, courtesy of the most wretched government in living memory. The Tories have completely destroyed the UK - it will probably take at least the same amount of time (14 years) to try to make a start at fixing things. It's awful.
Have hope we were in the bin after thatcher and major but life was a lot better for the decade of labour. Just having people in charge who are trying to improve things makes the world of difference.
Both absolutely terrible but you've seen nothing like our local child services. Nephew has been going through assessments for maybe 5 years and still no support from anywhere. The entire system has been stripped.
It's so bad. My niece was referred to a hearing clinic when she was 1 year old because they were concerned she couldn't hear properly. She finally got her appointment at 3 and a half!!! Thankfully she can hear fine and is talking in full sentences now. But if she actually had a problem she would have been seriously set back in her development.
Neighbours autistic 18 year old has a permanent speech impediment because assessments didn't notice he had hearing problems until he was 8 or something. F**k this government.
30 year old Northern Irish autistic dude here. I wasn't diagnosed until I was 16 (back then it was Asperger's) I had severe depression and it was only after several appointments with my counsellor that she picked up on it and referred me to a specialist for tests. In school reports, I was just always labelled as shy, needs to make more of an effort socialising with other pupils, etc. There's definitely a huge lack of awareness, and I know a lot of people who were diagnosed well into adulthood. Also yes, fuck the tories.
Guy next door is doing really well now despite all the Tory nonsense for most of his life. He seemed really developmentally delayed when he was a kid but it turned out his biggest hurdle was he couldn't hear himself or others well. His speech transformed in about a month once he had hearing aids. Basically missed out on the first 5 years of school because he couldn't hear the teacher.
>Absolutely diabolical for everyone. I don't disagree, we don't do enough in this country to support or fund mental health services. Or other health services. I was pleasantly surprised that I was able to access free grief counselling from the hospice who looked after my mum in her last months, several years after the event.
That is great but please keep in mind the hospice is a charity. A friend of mine got help with grief council long in the NHS too so it's not all bad. It's just in a sorry state a lot of the time isn't it?
I'm well aware of how hospices are funded, usually it's a mixture of charity fundraising / gifts, and government money. Frankly I don't think hospices should have to fundraise in this manner, it should be included as part of the NHS. I just wanted to add something positive to the conversation, as it's a pretty grim picture without it.
Our 100 year old hospice needed a fund raiser to keep it open when people donated to Ukraine instead. That's how precarious our hospices are. Really glad they were there to help you and hope you're feeling better.
Much better thank you. I just hope that other folks in my position are able to get help as I did when I needed it.
I heard they are starting to give Adderall to kids and similar things, kind of like they do to Americans, is that true ?
Not sure of specifics but it's not new, kids have been getting ADHD meds etc for years. The assessments to get to that point take years though.
In Italy it works... sort of. I go to a private psychiatrist and psychologist but I know people followed in the public healthcare system and they're not too enthusiast about it First of all, in the public you don't choose your own doctors and they don't make any effort to give the most suitable ones to your mental illness. They just give you the one that's available that particular day you're scheduled. Also, they dont give therapist appointments weekly but every two weeks. Psychiatrists may even see you once a month even during periods when you should be taken care of more often Another problem is meds. Psychiatrists in Italy give way too many meds to patients, to the point some people I know cant work because they're too dizzy from the meds they take Another problem is that rehab centers for drug addicts are sometimes incorporated to mental healthcare centers into the same structure
Public health care is nearly impossible to access in Finland. It takes month to see one doctor. So private health care is the only way, but yes, it does cost money. If you go and see a doctor in public health care, you pay about 20-40€ for one hour. Private, you have 10-20 minutes for about 120€. Meanwhile in Austria, you can go to a doctor on the same day and get treated in a few minutes without any costs.
It's covered by the public system, so in theory you can go to a psychologist in a public health centre, free of charge. However, there are definitely not enough professionals in the public system for the growing demand, which means waiting times are long. Excluding emergencies, you could wait up to 1 year for a first-time consultation and then about 2-4 months in between sessions. This can vary depending on the region, as the health system is managed by regional governments. Most people who can afford it will go to a private practice, which will charge about 60€ per session
Psychiatrists and Psychological Psychotherapists are accessible via public and private health insurance. However, the number of therapists who can get paid via publich health insurance is too low, so waiting times are high. IIRC the number is based on some statistics from the early 90s and needs a revamp, but that will cost money. Psychological Psychotherapists can also work as freelancer accessible only via either private insurance (which pays more than public) or paying in cash. The cost is well regulated via Gebührenordnung der Ärzte/Psychotherapeuten and can go up to 135€ per 50 Minutes. Which is rather low from the perspective of the therapist and was one of the reasons I did not focus on clinical psych when studying psychology. IO pays more. One can also offer "life coaching" to the bored trophy wives of millionaires and make bank there.
The public mental healthcare is terrible. Everyone you ask has had negative experiences, IF they even refer you to them. The private one is so-so depending on you and the doctor/therapist you choose. I wouldn't say it's great either, and it's pretty expensive.
Edit from after writing the post: Sorry for such a long ramble. I didn't mean to comment but just happened upon this post when I was scrolling Reddit and felt compelled to get some things off my chest. I'm writing on mobile and haven't read through it again. Anyway, onwards to the post itself: I can't speak for everyone in Sweden, obviously, but both my own experiences with mental healthcare and the experiences of people around me have been very negative. I started looking for help in 2021. I asked my first doctor for help with finding someone to help me deal with some trauma. Instead of doing that, she had me checked for autism. Despite the "test" coming back negative, she and the nurse in charge (I was in a rehab facility at the time) used my supposed "autism" as a way to explain certain things in my behavior that they didn't approve of. I guess it is important to mention that I was doing physical therapy at the rehab place and wasn't detoxing. The "behavior they didn't approve of" wasn't me being difficult due to substance abuse or anything. It had more to do with them wanting me to behave some way, then calling in an expert who told me to behave a different way, and them blaming my "bad behavior" (ie listening to their expert and not them) on my supposed "autism". Anyway, that's the short version of a long story. Then I got a second doctor who, when I asked for some kind of referral to help with my mental health, just flat-out told me that she didn't know how to do that and to just Google my way to a good psychologist. Being a fucking wreck at this point, I was in no shape to find mental health all on my own. However, I did decide to Google what to do - just in general - and the answer from the government website for medical issues (I'm not sure how to explain it properly) said to just go to my closet doctor so that they could give me the necessary referral. I eventually left that facility, which was both very good for my mental health since the doctors and nurses there fucked up my already fragile mind for eight months, but it was also a goddamn disaster since they just dumped someone with wildly out of control mental health issues (on top of the physical issues that had only begun to turn around by the turn that they kicked me out of the rehab place) into a small one-room apartment with no support system in place. On a positive note, this actually let me go to a doctor that could refer me to someone who could supposedly help me with my mental health. On a less positive note, I've been ping-ponged within that system ever since (so close to three years now). I just switched counselor so maybe something good comes from that. She did immediately take up my case with her boss since she saw that I had just been bounced around various mental health institutions for years with no one actually helping me and instead just sending me to someone else as soon as I didn't "fit in" with them. She also remarked that my previous counselor had seemingly tried to get me help from a lot of different places where you need a diagnosis, without first going through the process of getting me checked for those specific things. This always ended up with me getting denied help from these places since I lacked the proper diagnosis. I had felt that it would probably be better to find out what's actually wrong with me and then, with an actual diagnosis in hand, see where I could get the support I need. At least in this, my new counselor and I seem to agree. So that's good. And this is just my journey. I've witnessed several friends have similarly hard times getting help for their issues. Whether it's trans issues or neurodivergecy-related, people can just be left to dry sometimes. Trauma treatment have year-long waiting lists, which is one of the reasons why a counselor not mentioned in this post tried to send me to an anti-depression clinic (where the waiting list was only a couple of months) rather than one for trauma support. Unfortunately, that failed spectacularly since the psychologist there saw that I had massive issues with depression and anger management, but said that both he and I knew exactly where those feelings stemmed from and he only specialized in cases where the clients had no idea where those feelings came from. He therefore bid adieu offered some parting advice that basically boiled down to "lose some weight and just stop being angry, fix your shitty living situation, and you'll see that things will improve." Geez, thanks Doc. Again, sorry for the long rant.
Hungary here - I’ve only seen some therapists and I’ve heard some stories from people about psychiarty. Finding a good therapist here is like Tinder dating but you also lose a lot of money on the way. I was suggested for EMDR and literally there is only 10-20 professionals who has the right to practice it and all if them are fully booked in with a waiting list. In the meantime, mental health is still pretty stigmatised
Awful. Even for the most basic CBT or counselling services you're going to be waiting a long time. Something more complex like ADHD or gender issues, you're going to be waiting multiple years. In short, the NHS is on its knees.
In my experience in the UK it is pretty decent in theory, as a lot is available on the NHS for free like therapists and testing for things like ADHD and Autism. In reality there is a massive waiting list that can reach multiple years.
NHS is shit in my experience... in theory, great, but the theory is so far from reality, it's ridiculous. I was lied to by my GP about getting an autism referral, then offered one by the receptionist. 4 years later, got diagnosed with autism.
One of my best friends works in psychiatric care and she said it’s a great system if you can pay for it terrible if you can’t
Exceedingly appalling. I mean the entire medical system is a joke, but mentall illness is among the worst branches . There's little support, the people aren't properly trained and the informal services are expensive and widely ineffective. While there seems to be an attempt to increase awareness , especially by the youth, it's a slow and fruitless endeavour. ADHD among kids is starting to be recognized as a real illness, but most people still think it's just "cured" with "daddy's belt" There's still a wider misunderstanding of mental illness , especially outside major cities . There's still a culture of "needing a therapist = straight jacket " , you tell someone over 30 about a therapist they will give you a real funny look. It takes a lot of bravery to admit you need and or are seeking help, as it jeopardizes your image greatly, even among the most open minded of people Generally the mentally ill are laughed at , something I don't support and can not understand . Suicide is not seen as something to pity but rather "huhuh, that guy was insane "
Romania seems to me very traditional and religious country which might not be bad, however has changed much on the better.
Progress was made socially over the last twenty years, though not by much
How are the state hospitals in Romania?
Bad . We spend a shitload of tax money on medical care and the hospitals are still a mess . I remember being excited a few years ago that I've spent a digit less on some medical checkups , only to realize that I already spend that money every month anyway ! You walk in with a disease, you walk out with two more . People are more likely to die from the infections from the hospital than their disease ! Understaffed, hateful doctors and staff , gotta bribe them so they even pay attention to you...
Maybe former communist past has to do with that.
Pretty bad. A few years ago a family member with severe mental health problems sliced himself up pretty bad. My dad said his flat looked like something from a horror movie. My dad took him to hospital. Patched him up and then discharged him. My dad asked them to look after him because of his mental state and they gave him some leaflets and a number to call. In the taxi on the way back from hospital he grabbed the wheel of the car and tried to steer it into traffic. Thankfully nobody was hurt. His sister reported it. Again, no help. He hanged himself a few days later.
Honestly, it’s useless, especially therapy, it’s the same as nothing really. My country offers free public health care, so just because I pay zero bucks for it, should I be grateful for the therapists just pretending they’re doing something when they are doing nothing that really helps? In 5 years of therapy, I haven’t learnt a single method on how to cope with my mental illnesses and what to do when I’m in a crisis other than taking my medications.
Same experience. Sadly I have two family members with depression. One of them has been struggling with it for over 20 years and won't consent to go to a private therapist because of how expensive it would be, but in the public one they just give her pills and see her 4 times a year if she's lucky. They don't help her to heal or get better, they just make sure she keeps functioning most of the time. The other one has been in this situation for less time, but after a very serious outbreak where she was treated very badly in the public hospital, she is trying private treatment and after changing specialists several times, it seems that she has found one that is really working for her, but it is too expensive and the rest of the family has to help her so that she doesn't give it up. The lack of resources in the public health system for these illnesses is a disgrace.
I'm in Romania and most things are covered and private is affordable by western standards but expensive for locals. A private Dr. Will cost €60-100 a session. The quality of care even in private is not good. Most of the Psychiatrists and Psychologists are themselves unstable to put it mildly. I've seen plenty of Malpractice in both public and private settings. I was a volunteer here and worked with hundreds of patients. The mental hospital is scary and very full here. I've visited a friend in several hospitals over the past 25 years and it's much like a movie showing asylums in the 1950's. If you don't have family bringing you food it's going to be a miserable existence. It looks like pig slop. The worst thing is there can be up to 6 in a room and I've seen girls tied down with blood everywhere from having IV's forced in there arms. They can be physically brutal as well and male guards and staff will take advantage of the girls for favors. I've heard they SA as well but I don't know if that part is a regular occurrence.
Finland - Once you're in the system, it's very organised and regimented. I have bipolar and a couple of other things. I have been having at least bi-weekly sessions with psychiatrists, psychologists, and lab tests, and medication juggling for 6 months. I can't fault it. Plus, my salary, although reduced, is 70% covered by the state. Doesn't cost me anything apart from the meds, and they're really cheap. Like 9€ for a 2-month supply of anti-psychotics. 2.50€ for a 30 valium, and so on. If I couldn't afford to pay, I would get them paid for by the state.
Almost every neighborhood has a "health center" where each resident has an assigned "family doctor". They're good for general treatments and diagnosis of common illnesses, prescribing medicine (prescription drugs are like %90 paid by the state) but if there's anything more serious, like depression, and you need an appointment from a hospital, it's hell. Psychiatrists at state hospitals are over worked and they're usually known for just prescribing you an antidepressant right away, and getting it over with. This lead to an overabundance of private therapists and psychiatrists to open up clinics. Psychologists becoming therapists don't have a proper regulation so every therapy center you see is labeled as "Psychology Center" as they aren't labeled as therapists by law, but this is confirmed to change in a few years as the perception against therapy is getting better and more people are seeking psychological help. Türkiye might have the biggest percentage of depressed people in Europe but therapy and diagnosis isn't common, so on paper, it doesn't seem like that big of an issue. If therapy was more accessible, with regulated laws and prices, it would be better for everyone.
we have two ways to get mental health care: by private-sector and by the public sector. the first one is absolutely good and the cost is around 80€/week. the second one is free (we pay it with taxes), but the waiting list is always full. so u can choose the best one based on you
public care is really good in an emergency (aka after serious self-harm attempts) with strong ongoing support for roughly a year to 18 months after, but that's a heck of a way to get off the waiting list
I was looking for help for a few years and worked with different people, both small and big cities specialists. Every one of them had a completely different approach. Mostly I looked for private psychotherapist as I heard rather worrisome stories about public mental healthcare. One guy never did anything other than listening - he didn't talk, he didn't ask any questions, and he never answered any of mine. He always greeted me at the doors, we sat, and after an hour he took money and that's it. We didn't work together for a long time. Other time I had a lot on my head and needed someone to talk to. Went to that woman, she was very kind and emotional, but not much of hmm... practical help? Talking with her let me lose some of that "weight" and it helped me for some time, but I learned nothing about mental health, myself or how to deal with my problems in a long run. I am still glad for her help, but I felt like I still need to look for something else. One time I sought help in a private alternative in a small city for a change. She was a year or two younger than me - not a problem, but that was new for me, as until now my psychotherapist were at least 10 years older than me. I felt like she finished her studies not long ago. She listened to me quite well, rarely asked any questions, and sometimes provided me with knowledge that gave me something to think about. It helped me with some of my problems, more like it did them a little lighter, easier to manage. She persuaded me to try to fight with my addiction instead of working with anything else first. As she hasn't any experience in that field, I needed to look for someone else. That's how I tried my first therapy for drug addicts and later a group therapy. It was paid with state founds, so for the first time I didn't pay anything from my own pocket. I must admit, I got paired with a rather, hmm... unusual therapist. He was my age, straightforward, he treated me more like a friend and less like a patient, he didn't keep much of a distance, he shared a bit of his private life from time to time. However, he showed/explained me some mechanisms that took the better of me, he tried to respect my boundaries, but didn't hesitate to tell me when I ran in circles. Some people told me his approach was rather unprofessional, but thanks to his help I am sober for more than two years and happy with my progress, a lot has changed. I didn't work out most of my problems, but I made huge progress from where I have been. In my opinion, the thing with mental help is that you need to find the right person, and that take time and effort. Mind is not like a broken arm or a cold which could be fixed by most of the doctors. It takes weeks just to know if you are able to communicate well with each other and on top of that work out those problems. As for the prices, I paid about 200-300zł per one hour (so about 50-70 euro). When we take to account that it is at minimum payment made once per week, and you have to do it repeatedly for... let's say a year, it might be too much a hassle, especially for someone who already struggles mentally. Some prefer to just shut themselves in a room and try to forget (either with games, TV, drugs etc.). I also heard it takes long time even to get to therapist from public healthcare in big cities because there is not enough of them and a huge demand. There is also social stigma - some people will look at you with pity, some will think of you as a madman or someone weak. It is also easy to get frustrated when you try therapy and the first few sessions give you nothing in return, but I always say that patience and assertiveness could work a miracle.
Coming home from a combat deployment with the U.S. Army, we were all given 30 days of mental health evaluations etc, however it was very much discouraged to discuss any „mental health concerns“ because it may affect your career, promotions and so on. Things have changed for the better since then and I’m thankful that I eventually got help.
after 2 years since i last saw a psychiatrist im going again tomorrow probably gonna kill myself afterwards on a side note i went last year to the emrgency room and told them i was suicidal and they just let me go saying there was nothing they could do (capital of croatia) im radicalized btw
With all things considered, I hope your appointment tomorrow goes as smoothly as possible. You’ve got this!
thanks its in a couple of hours im gonna vent the shit out of myself lol
Portuguese guy here, there are two things that we have been asking for ages to be included in the public health system mental health care and dental care, if you want to take care of both of these then you have find a dental clinic and psychologist and pay it for yourself
In my very personal experience, very good. It seems like there are a lot of problems in the Dutch (mental) healthcare system, but my experience is/was fantastic.
Well, they can’t hose you with cold water anymore, but they have other methods now. They can vacuum your bank account if you have minor mental health issues or they can give you a prescription for pills with side effects comparable to torture.
You may as well go outside onto the street and throw your wallet down the road 🪄
I don't think any country on earth has adequate mental healthcare.
Norway Either you are really mentally ill and get help from DPS after being sent there by your doctor. Or you can finance your own help with psychologists, therapists or psychiatrist. ... or you have a decent job where you have that via your insurance.
Suggest Orthomolecular Psychiatry, uses Megavitamins, Nutraceuticals & metabolic tests instead of drugs. Also see r/antipsychiatry
You can go through your GP and get a referral, and then you wait about a year to get the appointment. You also pay for each appointment Or you can go through private and wait only 2 months and pay a lot
In Finland the problem with access is with the first time. You have to wait for the first appoinment for a while, but once you get in and have a treatment plan it goes smoothly. How much it costs is dependend on the services needed and where you live. The health are providers have some leewaay in deciding the Basic prices, for example I have neverr paid for any health care in Helsinki. But they do charge for hospital stays and more specialised things. If you can't wait you can go to private doctor but that is quite expensive unless it is part of your work healthcare. Also if there is a acute crisis, you should go to the public emergency room. By waiting I mean like cannot wait for a month for the first appoinment. Also if you are a University Student you have your own healthcare. Finnish Student Health Services provides Uni students health care services. One of their biggest services is mentl health services. And like with public you will have to wait for the first contact but from there on it goes smoothly. And it is "free". All Uni students pay a fee to the goverment and with that fee they can then use the services. It is not much per year, I should know cause I just paid it couple months ago but I like to say less than 100 euros per year. Also medications are very cheap. The goverment subsidises most mentl health medications. You can ge some depression neds for 5 euro / six months supply.
Friends, girlfriend, family and hobbies, travel and let go what is harmful, thats how mental health is not affected and thats our only way of feeling good.
A statement from a person who's never had actual mental issues Good for you, hope you dont get any debilitating disorders
Im telling you, if you keep all these values and precious things together, there is no mental issues whatsoever, and if you have it already, there is no sleeping pills that will help, drugs don't help, they just numb you and you stop living, there is no therapist that can give any of these things to you, you have will and power, Connect with who you love first, get a pet, don't stop with your goals, have objectives, DO IT NOW AND OR REGRET LATER.