The number of children and adolescents with psychological problems is increasing, VFN has expanded care

The current pressure on psychiatric and psychological services is quite extraordinary and the whole system is experiencing a crisis. Caring for mentally ill children and adolescents requires further capacity building in psychiatric care and the involvement of modern approaches in treatment.

“There is no doubt that children’s mental health is deteriorating due to a number of factors. These include a number of problematic socio-political phenomena such as covid, the economic crisis, migration and others. It is also necessary to mention the development of multimedia technologies and social networks as a very important factor,” said Radek Ptáček, clinical psychologist of the 1st Faculty of Medicine, UK and VFN.

Currently, the Center for Adolescent and Developmental Psychiatry at the Psychiatric Clinic primarily provides a day therapy program within the Day Station for Adolescents, which is a unique facility for the diagnosis and treatment of adolescent mental disorders.

The outpatient part of the center provides outpatient psychiatric and therapeutic care for discharged patients. A multidisciplinary team of experts consisting not only of psychiatrists and psychologists, but also social workers, pedagogues, addiction specialists, general psychiatric nurses, nutritional therapists, occupational therapists and others is dedicated to the treatment of disorders in adolescence, such as emotional, adaptive, psychosomatic, neurotic, food intake and post-covid consequences.

“Thanks to an extended team of health professionals and a multidisciplinary approach, we were able to adapt the program to the individual needs of adolescents and fulfilled the goals of the offered activation programs, such as restoring, maintaining and improving social relationships, improving performance, increasing self-confidence and improving the psychological state of clients,” said Eva Kitzlerová, head teacher Psychiatric clinics of the 1st Faculty of Medicine, UK and VFN.

There was an expansion of the day care program and the opening of a group for adolescents with eating disorders. “Part of the activities are yoga lessons led by a lecturer and other movement activities led by a physiotherapist, as well as ergotherapy, art therapy, canistherapy and other therapies specifically aimed at this diagnostic group. This is, for example, the creation of a food pyramid, a fact board – planning the menu, its presentation, evaluating the therapist and the group, or procuring supplies for dining practice,” mentioned the spectrum of options, headmistress Kitzlerová.

She also added that therapy takes place in the modified premises of the inpatient and outpatient clinics, including the possibility of family and other caregivers participating, a group of addictologists, a nutritional therapist, a thematic educational group focusing on sleep hygiene, a healthy lifestyle, and family therapy.

“Currently, we observe a completely insufficient capacity in the field of psychiatric-psychological services for children and adolescents. In this sense, the General University Hospital in Prague responds to a real need. The juvenile detention center is therefore a significant asset,” Radek Ptáček praised its functioning.

Patients between the ages of 14 and 19 come to the day care center for eight weeks. The stay can then be repeated again after a year. “The basic prerequisite for admission to the inpatient facility is the adolescent’s motivation to work on himself therapeutically within the program. Furthermore, it is necessary that the degree of mental illness can be managed in outpatient care,” said Tereza Podozová, psychologist and coordinator of the Day Station for Adolescents of the Psychiatric Clinic of the 1st Faculty of Medicine, UK and VFN.

Teenagers who actively use addictive substances or who are at high risk of suicide cannot be admitted to the Day Care Center for Adolescents. Other contraindications for entering a hospital include mental retardation, autism spectrum disorders or psychotic disorders.

“If the patient is interested in participating in the psychotherapy program of the Day Clinic for Adolescents, then it is necessary for his legal representative, in the case of a minor patient, to send a report describing the child’s difficulties and attach a report from an outpatient psychiatrist, a discharge report from hospitalization or a report from a psychological examination,” explained Podozová.

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Functional and modern equipment with aids for creative activities create a motivating environment here. “The hospital is equipped, for example, with emotion cards, aids for multi-sensory therapy, art therapy, relaxation aids, including beanbags. Aids are used to train social skills, with which patients practice dining, cooking at home, sorting waste, and as part of relaxation activities, they have music therapy tools and board games at their disposal,” added Zuzana Fišarová, head nurse of the Psychiatric Clinic of the 1st Faculty of Medicine, UK and VFN.

As part of the improvement of the existing therapeutic and social rehabilitation methods, the VFN proceeded with the complete reconstruction, restoration and equipment of two gardens on the premises of the Psychiatric Clinic – a sports therapeutic relaxation garden and a garden with the implementation of an outdoor classroom.

“In the sports and therapeutic relaxation garden, we practice practical skills in a real environment. We practice social habits, clients engage in gardening, watering, digging, learning about plants and trees. The garden also includes a fire pit used for therapeutic activities and practicing outdoor dining. In addition, equipment for relaxation, games and exercise activities was purchased,” explained the primary teacher, Eva Kitzlerová, adding that the second garden is used by therapists mainly for teaching and implementing closed group activities, such as psychotherapy, music therapy, psychogymnastics and canistherapy.

“Environmental therapy affects the intellectual, emotional and freely active component of a person’s personality, develops skills and communication. Part of it is the maintenance of greenery or the planting of flowers and their care,” added the program in the therapeutic gardens, headmistress Kitzlerová.