FULLERTON, California — Estonia, a country that has battled for control of its land from foreign powers throughout its history, is home to 1.3 million people facing another ongoing battle: mental health. For many years, mental health in Estonia has suffered from neglect and a lack of policies centered on the perspectives of its people. However, in recent years, Estonia has made considerable progress in providing appropriate psychiatric care for those in need.
Transformation in the 2020s
The previously scarce mental health services in Estonia were once based on Soviet psychiatry. However, significant changes have occurred, and the focus has shifted towards patient-centered care, with efforts being made to enhance their quality of life. By implementing the WHO QualityRights guidelines, Estonia has taken small yet significant strides toward transforming its mental health care system. The guidelines helped assess the quality of care in Estonia’s institutions, encouraging improvements and better care for individuals. By determining whether the facilities were adequate to support people’s mental health conditions, the WHO QualityRights assessment led to a significant transformation for Estonians’ health and their fundamental human rights.
Facility Quality and Funding
In 2018, the World Health Organization (WHO) determined that Estonia’s mental health facilities were “far below standard” due to the regular violation of patients’ fundamental human rights. However, as of 2023, Estonia’s mental health field is set to receive more than double the original allocation from public funding for services. The aim is to develop a range of necessary services that can cater to a broader target group and provide essential resources and support. Estonia hopes that this additional funding will serve as a catalyst for bringing about much-needed change. With additional funding of 1.14 million euros, Estonia aims to expand services to local communities instead of focusing solely on specialized care for long-term institutional mental health concerns.
Higher Education in Psychology
Since 2002, when there were only two accredited psychology training programs, Estonian universities have made significant strides in expanding their resources for the study of psychology. According to TopUniversities, Estonia now boasts three universities offering psychology programs, providing students with opportunities for higher education and enabling them to contribute to mental health care in Estonian society.
Estonian Social Insurance Board
The ENSIB is a government institution under the Ministry of Social Affairs, and it has been the sole entity responsible for implementing assessments to regulate the quality of mental health facilities in the country. However, in the past year, ENSIB organized training sessions in Tallinn to promote recruitment from other regions to join their quality assessment efforts.
Accelerate Estonia
In an endeavor to revolutionize Estonia, Accelerate Estonia focuses on generating radical and innovative ideas to instigate lasting systemic change. While its purpose encompasses a wide range of topics, one of its core missions is to enhance mental health in the country. By fostering collaborations with the public and private sectors, experts, entrepreneurs and various stakeholders, Accelerate Estonia aims to contribute to the well-being of its citizens. Given the alarming increase in youth suicides, clinical depression, anxiety and related issues, Accelerate Estonia seeks to identify new stimuli that can inspire different sectors of society to adopt a collaborative approach to improving the mental health system of the country.
Mental Health in Estonia
In conclusion, Estonia has witnessed significant developments in its mental health landscape in recent years. The country has taken crucial steps to shift its focus towards patient-centered care and improve the quality of psychiatric services. With increased funding and efforts from institutions like the Estonian Social Insurance Board (ENSIB) and initiatives like Accelerate Estonia, there is a growing momentum to address mental health challenges, promote collaboration and transform the mental health system in Estonia. These endeavors demonstrate Estonia’s commitment to providing better support and care for its citizens, marking a positive trajectory for mental health in the country.
– Sandy Kang
Photo: pixabay