MHE members supportive of mental health changes in Lithuania

Members from Mental Health Europe today met the Minister of Health, Arūnas Dulkys, as well as Lithuanian and international  mental health experts in Vilnius

The discussion focused on the changing mental health landscape in Lithuania, the accompanying challenges, but also the opportunities provided by translating and transferring good practices from other countries. The exchanges concluded that there are many lessons to be learned, the most important being that both cultural change and political support are needed at all levels.

Representatives of Mental Health Europe (MHE) chose to hold their Annual General Assembly in Vilnius, Lithuania, in order to see the country’s progress and plans in the field of mental health and provide a European perspective.  MHE brings together multidisciplinary experts with long-standing experience in human rights, health, disability and social affairs to contribute to the development of a community-based, recovery-oriented approach to mental health and wellbeing in Europe.

As the mental health reform in Lithuania, now in its second year gathers momentum, a number of results have been achieved: a new procedure for providing assistance to people with suicide ideation, a significant increase in funding for psychotherapy, psychosocial rehabilitation, psychiatric day-care, and an increase in the number of medical psychologists in mental health centres. A strong focus is placed on strengthening human rights through the introduction of a service evaluation model based on the WHO Quality Rights programme. The introduction of case management and active community care team services, among other changes, are being initiated to strengthen continuing care.

MHE will keep liaising with Minister Dulkys and his team to create links for further exchange of expertise.

See the original and full press release in Lithuanian.