The Swiss mental healthcare system for people with intellectual disabilities
| Published date | 02 July 2018 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/AMHID-04-2018-0020 |
| Pages | 135-144 |
| Date | 02 July 2018 |
| Author | Dan Georgescu,Anne Styp von Rekowski |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Learning & intellectual disabilities |
The Swiss mental healthcare system for
people with intellectual disabilities
Dan Georgescu and Anne Styp von Rekowski
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to describe the mental healthcare system for people with intellectual
disabilities (ID) in Switzerland. It covers the current provision of mental healthcare services as well as
educational and research aspects, and summarises both the historical development and the current data on
demography, health economics, legislation and national policy.
Design/methodology/approach –The authors performed an extensive literature research and evaluated
the (very sparse) literature, conducted some interviews with recognised experts and carried out extensive
internet-based research on the topic.
Findings –There are numerous, well-funded, well-staffed and well-equipped facilities for people with ID.
These facilities have highly trained special education teachers and social education workers. Legislation,the
insurance system as well as the policies and strategies on a national level are basically in line with people’s
with ID needs. On the other hand, there are too few specialist physicians and psychologists, not enough
training centres and too few specialist psychiatric services, both inpatient and outpatient. Medical and
psychological research in this field is also insufficient.
Practical implications –In Switzerland, the development of treatment facilities typically does not start with a
decision by a central authority to implement a policy in a top-down process. Usually, these organisations
develop on the basis of some local initiatives and spread throughout the country. The process is likely to be
similar in the case of services for people with mental health and intellectual disabilities (MHID), and the
situation can be expected to be much better throughout the country withina few years. Furthermore, specific
training programmes are expected to be created for physicians and psychologists of various disciplines, to
promote an interdisciplinary approach.
Originality/value –This review fills a gap in that there are very few published reviews on the provision of
MHID services in Switzerland.
Keywords Switzerland, Intellectual disabilities, Mental healthcare services, National policy,
Medical education, Psychological education
Paper type General review
Introduction
This work describes the state of the mental healthcare system for people with intellectual disabilities in
Switzerland. The review covers the current provision of mental healthcare services as well as
educational and research aspects and summarises both the historicaldevelopment and the current
data on demography, health economics, legislation and national policy. As there are hardly any
reviews on the provision of services for mental health and intellectual disabilities (MHID) in Switzerland,
we performed an extensive literature research and evaluated the (very sparse) literature, conducted
some interviews with recognised experts and carried out extensive internet-based research into the
various aspects of this topic. The result was a comprehensive and critical review of the current state of
thesystemaswellasananalysisoftheneedfor action and an outlook on the future.
The Swiss national context: administration and economy
Switzerland –officially the Swiss Confederation –is a federal republic situated in central Europe.
It covers an area of 41,287 km
2
and had a population of 8.372m in 2016. Switzerland consists
Received 3 April 2018
Revised 15 July 2018
Accepted 2 August 2018
Dan Georgescu and
Anne Styp von Rekowski are
both based at the Department
of Consultation-Liaison
Psychiatry, Old Age Psychiatry
and Neuropsychiatry, Aargau
Psychiatric Services, Windisch,
Switzerland.
DOI 10.1108/AMHID-04-2018-0020 VOL. 12 NO. 3/4 2018, pp.135-144, © Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 2044-1282
j
ADVANCESIN MENTAL HEALTH AND INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES
j
PAGE135
To continue reading
Request your trial