Community Mental Healthcare in Different European Countries
On 10 May 2024, during one of two annual meetings organised by the Psychiatric Association of Türkiye (PAT), a joint symposium entitled “Community Mental Healthcare in Europe: Different Countries, Challenges, Alternative Methods” was organised by the PAT and the EPA. The symposium took place in Mersin at the 2nd International & 26th National Clinical Education Symposium.
Prof. Eka Chkonia, Vice-chair of the EPA Council on National Psychiatric Associations, presented “Challenges in Establishing Community Mental Health Services in Georgia.” She presented the needs, the reform, and the present situation of the community mental health services organisation in Georgia. She discussed the challenges, in addition to the opportunities experienced. Her presentation was followed by Dr. Emre Mutlu, former secretary general of the PAT, who presented on Community Mental Health Center in Türkiye, focusing on what has been accomplished and what could have been done. Finally, Dr. Hatice Kahraman described the “assertive outreach model” in community mental healthcare delivery. Koray Başar, the secretary of the EPA Council on National Psychiatric Associations, and Memduah Aydın chaired the joint symposium. Fruitful discussions with the audience followed the presentations.
Clinical Education Symposium, a testament to our commitment to continuous professional development and lifelong learning, mainly targets residents and young psychiatrists. This is the second year it is organised as an international meeting. Around 600 colleagues, actively engaged in the discussion, participated in the symposium. Community mental health services in Türkiye have evolved significantly in the last decades, and many challenges and obstacles have been experienced. Therefore, the psychiatric community, eager to discuss different delivery models and experiences in other European countries, actively participated in the symposium.
In addition to the symposium, the Committee of International Affairs and Executive Committee members of the PAT had the opportunity to meet Prof. Eka Chkonia in person and elaborate on further opportunities for collaboration.
