Fight for better child psychiatry: Landtag urgently demands measures!

Fight for better child psychiatry: Landtag urgently demands measures!

In the upcoming state session on April 3, 2025, the MfG Upper Austria will focus on two central topics: the psychiatric care of children and adolescents as well as the demand for more transparency in the state budget. The member of the state parliament Dagmar Häusler emphasizes the urgency of the psychiatric care of young people and refers to an initiative examination by the State Audit Office, which indicates significant defects in child and adolescent psychiatry. This problem is not only limited to Austria, but also affects many European countries, such as Bag.admin.ch Show

In Switzerland, studies have shown that children and adolescents are often under -supplied. Reports such as those of the Office for Labor and Social Policy Studies (BASS) from 2016 as well as current reports from the Zurich University of Applied Sciences, identify weaknesses in psychiatric care. Covid-19 pandemic has further reinforced these problems, as a documentary in the Obsan Bulletin 2022 makes it clear, which determines an increase in psychiatric hospitalization and presumed attempts at suicide, especially in girls.

urgent measures required

As part of the state parliament meeting, Häusler will make an oral request to Health Councilor Haberlander in order to obtain information on the planned steps of the state government to remedy the existing deficits in psychiatric care. In addition to the demand for targeted measures, the MFG also wants to initiate the integration of alternative professional groups to prevention work. These approaches could be promising, especially in view of the steps taken in Switzerland, where many cantons have already invested in the creation of additional inpatient places and the increase in job percentages in child and adolescent psychiatry to improve the supply situation.

In addition, the MFG welcomes the SPÖ application, which demands quarterly reports on the financial situation of the country. This transparency is of great importance in particular on the repeated concerns of LAbg. Joachim Aigner to target-actual comparison in the budget. Aigner has already campaigned for more clarity in the budget process in several inquiries and required the calculation and designation of pension provisions in the state budget.

transparency as a political goal

As part of the discussion, club chairman Manuel Krautgartner emphasizes the importance of facts, transparency and solutions in politics. The MFG not only wants to point out the defects, but also offer practical solutions to ensure and improve the care of children and adolescents in psychiatry. In the meantime, the health director conference and other organizations in Switzerland are also active in the impairment of the supply situation to cope with the challenges of the present.