The situation of child psychiatry improves, but not everywhere. The TVN Foundation starts with subsequent initiatives

The state of child psychiatry in Poland is a great remorse for all the rulers – years pass and there is still a lot to do. The TVN Foundation knows this perfectly and that is why it works. Soon it is planned to launch another 80 mental health rooms in hospitals all over Poland, retrofitting the Center for Psychiatry and Oncology for Children and Youth, as well as the implementation of a new psychological therapy support program – also for people with disabilities.

On one pitch, in one team against FranceGrzegorz Krychowiak, Zbigniew Boniek, Mata, Quebonafide, Piotr Świerczewski and Marcin Oleksy play with each other. In this match, victory means something more.

– The most important is the goal for which we play. (…) We are talking about great charity undertakings – said Zbigniew Boniek, former president of PZPR. – I play as an athlete to win, but we also play for children – commented Grzegorz Krychowiak., A former footballer of the Polish national team.

The game is primarily about support for the mental health of children and youth. – Money that will be collected during today's match will be transferred to the Foundation's very important activity for several years, i.e. the mental health of children and youth – said Zuzanna Lewandowska, president of the TVN Foundation.

Also, the SMSs of viewers sent during the broadcast will allow the TVN Foundation to continue real activities supporting the mental health of children and youth. Such as the Center for Children and Youth Open in January this year, the most modern place of this type in Europe.

Another support for the psychiatry of children and youth from the TVN Foundation

The TVN Foundation plans to launch another 80 mental health rooms in hospitals all over Poland, as well as the implementation of a new psychological therapy support program – also for people with disabilities. – We see that for several years the crisis of mental health has been so huge that intensive action is really needed – said Zuzanna Lewandowska.

There are still too many urgent needs. In 2025, about 4.2 billion zlotys went to psychiatric care from the state budget. This is money for hospital facilities, therapeutic programs and environmental initiatives. PLN 1.2 billion comes from EU funds, three billion from the National Medical Fund. This is the highest amount in history, but – unfortunately – still insufficient, experts say.

– It is known that money matters, but also what we will spend it on – emphasized Maja Herman, a psychiatrist, psychotherapist, president of the Polish Society of Media.

Over the past decade, a lot has improved in the psychiatry of children and youth, but there is even more to do. Maja Herman estimated that this improvement applies to larger cities, but in smaller towns psychiatry still needs support.

Large needs of Polish society

The situation is still bad and statistics show it. Every fourth Pole suffered from a mental disorder at least once in his life – most often this concerned neurotic disorders, i.e. panic, phobia or post -traumatic stress attacks.

In second place is depression, which was experienced by almost 5 percent of us – they are almost four million Polish women and Poles. However, the problem is most affected by the young. Almost 30 percent of them have a suspicion of depression. 4 out of 10 students thought about attempting to suicide.

You need to respond to such data, but it is difficult to help when one psychiatrist would take care of a group of 6,500 adult Poles, and one child psychiatrist would take care of over 12,000 young patients.

Two bills are to be sent to the Sejm. The first, written from scratch, about the profession of a psychotherapist, is already after social consultations. The second is the amendment to the act on the profession of a psychologist, which has been waiting for for years, because it is present, but in practice it does not work at all. Both laws will not increase the number of specialists, but are to improve the quality of psychological assistance.

– Such regulations will help that people who need help are sure that they get good quality help – said Dr. Agnieszka Siedler, a child psychologist.