REFORM OF CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRY IN POLAND:
CHALLENGES IN DIAGNOSIS AND SYSTEM TRANSFORMATION

Aleksandra Lewandowska; Andrzej Silczuk; Mateusz Jankowski; Mariusz Gujski; Paulina Mularczyk-Tomczewska; Małgorzata Janas-Kozik

doi:10.5114/hpc.2025.154229

eISSN: 2354-0265
ISSN: 2353-6942

Health Problems of Civilization Physical activity: diseases and issues recognized by the WHO

Current issue Archive Online first About the journal Editorial board Reviewers Abstracting and indexing Contact Instructions for authors Publication charge Ethical standards and procedures

Editorial System

Submit your Manuscript

Editorial Policies

Sarajevo Declaration on Integrity and Visibility of Scholarly Publications

Open access

Send email

Copy url:

abstract:

Review paper

REFORM OF CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRY IN POLAND: CHALLENGES IN DIAGNOSIS AND SYSTEM TRANSFORMATION

Aleksandra Lewandowska

¹

,

Andrzej Silczuk

²

,

Mateusz Jankowski

³

,

Mariusz Gujski

⁴

,

Paulina Mularczyk-Tomczewska

⁴

,

Małgorzata Honorata Janas-Kozik

^{5, 6}

Children Psychiatry Unit, Specialized Psychiatric Health Care Centre in Łódź, Poland
Department of Community Psychiatry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland
Department of Population Health, Center of Postgraduate Medical Education, Warsaw, Poland
Department of Public Health, Faculty of Life Sciences, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland
Department and Clinical Ward of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland
John Paul II Child and Family Health Center in Sosnowiec, Poland

Health Prob Civil.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5114/hpc.2025.154229

Online publish date: 2025/09/19

View full text Get citation

PlumX metrics:

This narrative review was undertaken in response to the need for systematizing the current state of knowledge regarding the organization of child and adolescent psychiatric care in Poland. Its primary objective was to provide a comprehensive analysis of the reform of this sector of health care, taking into account both the epidemiological context and systemic determinants. The first part presents an analysis of the initial conditions, highlighting key structural, organizational, and staffing deficits that formed the basis for the necessity of reform. Subsequently, the principles and implementation of the reform process initiated in 2018 are examined, with particular focus on the shift away from an institutional model toward a community-based model, as well as the implementation of a tiered system of mental health services. The following section evaluates the outcomes of the reforms to date, including increased availability of outpatient services, reduced waiting times for intervention, and the expansion of specialist training pathways. The study concludes by identifying key challenges and areas requiring further intervention, such as limited intersectional coordination, uneven service standardization, workforce shortages, and financial sustainability of the psychiatric care system for minors.

keywords:

REFORM OF CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRY IN POLAND: CHALLENGES IN DIAGNOSIS AND SYSTEM TRANSFORMATION

Aleksandra Lewandowska 1 , Andrzej Silczuk 2 , Mateusz Jankowski 3 , Mariusz Gujski 4 , Paulina Mularczyk-Tomczewska 4 , Małgorzata Honorata Janas-Kozik 5, 6

child psychiatry, healthcare reform, community health services, Poland, mental health services

Aleksandra Lewandowska

¹

,

Andrzej Silczuk

²

,

Mateusz Jankowski

³

,

Mariusz Gujski

⁴

,

Paulina Mularczyk-Tomczewska

⁴

,

Małgorzata Honorata Janas-Kozik

^{5, 6}