Doctors are sounding the alarm: the need for psychotherapy is enormous, not least because of the pandemic. But there are no tills, private is expensive. Solutions are on the table.
Even before the pandemic, two to five percent of the population needed psychotherapeutic support: For example, depressive symptoms affect up to a quarter of the population, and the rate for children and adolescents is nearly 50 percent. Not to be underestimated: the risk of suicide.
Crises and war also affect Austrians
Now the crisis and the war have an extra impact on the Austrians: “Sleep disturbances, nightmares, fears and psychosomatic symptoms push many people beyond their limits,” says Fritz Riffer, medical director of the Eggenburg Psychosomatic Clinic. Without help there is a risk of “chronized disease processes, combined with long-term absenteeism from work and even increasing early retirement”.
Austria was a pioneer in Europe with the Psychotherapy Act of 1991: the financing, a general contract, was already planned, but never implemented.
“Therapy is not affordable for many”
For those affected, according to the Federal Association of Psychotherapy (ÖBVP), the road to the checkout is difficult to see through, barely manageable on your own: “You already have enough to do with getting back to health, finding your way back to life,” says Riffer If you don’t get that, and that’s about half, then you have to take into account a deductible of 40 to more than 100 euros – weekly: “not affordable for many”.
The solution according to ÖBVP: a total contract, preferably without quotas – just like with other medical services.
The Court of Audit already recommended this in the 2019 audit report: it pointed to the increased follow-up costs for sick pay, rehabilitation benefits and early retirement due to mental illness. Between 2006 and 2017, they rose to more than 300 million a year. And the report shows that with a high concentration of psychotherapy, the follow-up costs are lower.
With a total contract, half of the population would not have to pay any contribution towards the costs and there would only be a small deductible for elective therapists – see interview. In this way, “psychotherapy for all seriously ill and socially disadvantaged persons would be insured on a health insurance certificate”.
According to ÖBPV, this would be financed with an additional 100 to 150 million euros per year. Now they rely on politics: “We talk a lot about Corona and the psychological consequences – now would be a good time!”
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
