Bavarian District Assembly: 50 years of Psychiatry Enquête in the focus of the general assembly

Bavarian District Assembly: 50 years of Psychiatry Enquête in the focus of the general assembly

The general meeting of the Bavarian District Council, which is taking place today in Bad Gögging, is dedicated to the current challenges in psychiatric care. With the focus on the 50th anniversary of the Psychiatry Enquête, we look back on the significant changes in the psychiatric landscape in Germany. The event, which is organized every seven years by the Lower Bavaria district, offers a platform for discussion and exchange about developments and future requirements for psychiatric care. Waidler reports.

As part of the conference, Prof. Dr. Stefan Priebe from the University of Hamburg gave an insightful lecture on the connection between mental illness and social factors, underlining the need for a holistic approach to care. In his opening speech, District Council President Franz Löffler outlined the challenges facing the districts. In particular, the preventative promotion of mental health was mentioned as a central point, because the earlier support is offered, the sooner consequential damage can be avoided.

Review of the Psychiatry Enquête

The Psychiatry Enquête, launched in 1975, was a historical turning point that exposed the abuses in psychiatric care and led to fundamental reforms. The report at the time laid the foundation for community-based, humane and socially oriented psychiatry. These findings and recommendations are still relevant today, as the discussions during the assembly made clear. The German Society for Social Psychiatry (DGSP) recalls the importance of this reform movement, which had a significant influence on the structure of psychiatric care in Germany DGSP explains.

There has been progress over the last five decades, but challenges remain. Franz Löffler emphasized that more control and targeted use of resources are necessary to meet the social challenges in the healthcare system. Municipal budgets are under pressure and the need to strengthen the financial situation was also raised. Bay districts added.

Urgent need for action

The discussion about the transition from child to adolescent psychiatry and structural reforms in psychiatric care is at the top of the agenda. Dr. Olaf Heinrich, President of the District Council, made it clear that more political will is needed to implement the necessary structural reforms. He and Rainer Haselbeck, the district president of Lower Bavaria, pointed out the constitutional status of the districts and their role as an essential social backbone. Martin Neumeyer, district administrator in the Kelheim district, addressed the financial burdens on municipalities in the health sector and called for support for sustainable solutions. Bay Districts provides further information.

In a joint exchange, the speakers encouraged active participation in shaping sustainable psychiatric care that meets the needs of the population. In this sense, the general assembly is seen not only as a review, but also as the starting signal for future developments that are important for mental health in Germany.