Poland has just launched the WHO Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP), an evidence-based approach to scaling up capacity and services for mental health conditions, under its National Health Programme, in a major step towards addressing the unmet mental health needs of the population.
Poland, like other countries in the WHO European Region, has significant challenges when it comes to ensuring access to mental health services. 60% of patients who have reported needing mental health support say they do not seek help due to stigma. There are just 9 psychiatrists per 100 000 population in the country and waiting times are long. 3.7% of the Polish national health budget is spent on mental health care, which is low compared to some other European countries.
