The outpatient clinics at the Psychiatric University Hospital Charité in Berlin are cooperating with the Tbilisi Stress Management and Mental Health Center in Georgia. The aim is to develop and implement an innovative interdisciplinary, multi-professional treatment strategy for outpatient care for people with mental illness.
Context:
Structural changes in psychiatric health care in Georgia resulted in the closure of large hospitals and a concentration on smaller psychiatric departments in general hospitals. The changes did not include an expansion of outpatient services. Given the stigmatisation of people with mental health issues in Georgia, the provision of low-threshold services is particularly relevant.
Activities:
-\tTransfer of expertise and skills in outpatient psychiatric care in training courses, workshops and temporary placements
-\tSharing experience in supervision groups
-\tDeveloping and implementing a treatment strategy for outpatient care for people with mental illness
Result:
The hospital partnership aims to help close the gaps in outpatient care for people with mental illness in Georgia. The strategy developed and the experienced gained during the collaboration will be presented to professionals and politicians as a model project for a nationwide reform of the outpatient psychiatric care system.