Waiting times for psychotherapy in Schleswig-Holstein at a record high!

Waiting times for psychotherapy in Schleswig-Holstein at a record high!

In Schleswig-Holstein, people have always struggled with psychotherapeutic care, which in many places still falls short of the needs of the population. Kn-online reports that mental disorders often lead to long absences from work. The waiting times for therapy places can then quickly extend to weeks or even months, which represents an enormous burden for those affected.

Doctolib's analysis sheds light on the state of psychotherapeutic care in Schleswig-Holstein. She not only examines the number of patients per psychotherapist, but also the waiting times for those with statutory health insurance. In Kiel, for example, a psychotherapist looks after around 2,000 residents, while in the districts of Herzogtum Lauenburg, Plön and Segeberg, one therapist is responsible for around 5,000 residents. What is particularly striking is the large discrepancy between urban and rural areas - it turns out that care is significantly better in cities.

Regional differences in care

As the analysis shows, there are major differences in psychotherapeutic care within the federal state. The top 3 regions are Lübeck (156.7%), Neumünster/Rendsburg-Eckernförde (151.4%) and Kiel (150.5%) - all oversupply areas. In contrast, Segeberg (115.4%), Duchy of Lauenburg (127.6%) and Plön (129.4%) are in last place. With an average waiting time of 61 days, varying between 5 and 153 days depending on the region, the problem of long waiting times has many faces. The Pinneberg district is particularly affected, where the waiting time is around 100.6 days.

A small ray of hope: Studies indicate that more than 90% of patients can have an initial consultation within three months, and two thirds of those affected find the waiting time to be acceptable. The most common reasons for seeking therapy include low mood, anxiety disorders and psychosomatic complaints. In this context, the Schleswig-Holstein Chamber of Psychotherapists a search service called Psychinfo, which makes it easier for those seeking advice to find suitable therapists in their area.

Quality of care and patient satisfaction

Interestingly, a survey of over 2,200 therapy seekers shows that 87% of respondents are very satisfied with the results of their psychotherapy. Almost 89% report an improvement in their condition after treatment. The German Society for Psychosomatic Medicine also points out that the majority of people who want to seek help go to a therapist on their own initiative, which underlines the need for broader information about the offers.

So the question remains as to how the situation can be improved. The Schleswig-Holstein Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians has already expressed concerns that Doctolib's methodology does not realistically reflect actual care. It is clear that there is still a lot of room for improvement in order to sustainably improve the supply situation in the country and to no longer abandon those affected.