Access to mental healthcare in Europe
Pay up or put it off: how Europe treats depression and anxiety_62cca5c27a539.jpeg
Illustration by Una Rebić/Pod črto
Depression and anxiety are the most commonly diagnosed mental health conditions in the European Union, and the Covid-19 pandemic has made the picture worse. Yet, national public healthcare systems do not always include treatment for these problems. Moreover, not all people who need treatment receive it or are even diagnosed, for various reasons.
Months of work by Civio – supported by several EDJNet members – resulted in this detailed analysis, resting on the consultation of dozens of documents and on interviews with several European professionals.
Main findings:
- Even when public healthcare offers psychological treatment, significant barriers persist: patients must often provide a co-payment; long waiting lists and a limited number of consultations hinder access to appropriate diagnosis and treatment; many of the countries are far below the recommended ratio of psychologists per inhabitants.
- In Romania, a worker on the minimum wage would have to work, on average, almost four days to pay for a single session with a private psychologist. In Slovakia, Estonia and Croatia, this figure exceeds two days.
Stories
Doctors continue prescribing anti-anxiety medications such as lorazepam or diazepam for long periods despite the risk of addictions. Meanwhile, under-investment in psychological care is making things worse.
April 30, 2021
In the European Union, thousands of people with serious mental disorders live isolated and secluded from society, without receiving all the care they need. At least 150 million euros of EU funds, intended to improve their situation, have been used for other purposes.
April 22, 2021
-
In many European countries, the availability of psychological treatment in the public healthcare system is inadequate or even non-existent. Barriers such as long waiting lists, co-payments and inadequate resources push people with anxiety or depression – those who can afford it – to the private system.
March 9, 2021
Mental health resources in the European Union were scarce even before the pandemic. COVID-19 has caused a tsunami in mental health, and access to care is more difficult today. About 75 percent of psychiatry services in the EU have been taking place via telemedicine, but this is not a viable option for all patients.
December 3, 2020
The coordinator
Eva Belmonte (Civio) is a Spanish journalist expert in investigating and processing public information and data. She designs, develops and edits all of Civio’s projects. In 2019 Eva was awarded a Data Journalism Award for her personal portfolio.
