The focus on child psychiatry: defects and solutions in the state parliament!

The focus on child psychiatry: defects and solutions in the state parliament!

Oberösterreich, Österreich - On April 3, 2025, the state parliament meeting of MFG Upper Austria will focus on two central topics: the psychiatric care of children and adolescents as well as the need for more transparency in the state budget. LAbg. Dagmar Häusler emphasizes the urgency of the psychiatric care of young people and refers to an initiative examination of the State Audit Office, which shows significant defects in child and adolescent psychiatry. The defects are alarming and require immediate measures.

In an oral request, Häusler will ask the health councilor, Ms. Haberlander, to clarify the planned steps of the state government when corrected these deficits. The goal is to demand targeted measures that cover the need for specialist staff, shorten waiting times and include alternative professional groups in the prevention work.

transparency in the state budget

MFG is also pleased with an application from the SPÖ, which demands quarterly reports on the financial situation of the country. LAbg. Joachim Aigner has already pointed out the need for target-actual comparisons in the budget enforcement in several inquiries. Aigner is committed to more budget transparency, which also includes the calculation and designation of pension provisions. "Facts, transparency and solutions are crucial for our politics," explains club chairman Manuel Krautgartner and clarifies the commitment of the MFG for responsible housekeeping.

The problem of psychiatric undersupply of children is not only evident in Austria, but also in other countries such as Switzerland. According to a study by the office for labor and social policy studies (bass) from 2016, this undersupply is alarming. Additional studies by the Kanton Basel-Stadt school psychological service and the Zurich University of Applied Sciences from 2020 underline this problem and analyze weaknesses in the current care system.

Effects of Covid-19 pandemy

It is particularly worrying that the Covid 19 pandemic has strengthened undersupply. The Obsan Bulletin 2022 documents an increase in psychiatric hospitalization and presumed attempts at suicide, especially in girls and young women. In this context, many cantons have taken steps to improve the supply situation. The federal government plans to continue to actively accompany and support the development in the field of child and adolescent psychiatry.

The problem of undersupply is complex and affects the entire society. The initiatives of politicians such as Dagmar Häusler and Joachim Aigner, who work for better psychiatric care for children and adolescents, are all the more important. It is to be hoped that the upcoming decisions will initiate positive changes in the state parliament meeting.