Poland child psychiatry services remain inefficient despite reforms

A report by the Supreme Audit Office (NIK) indicates that child and adolescent psychiatric care in Poland remains inefficient despite recent organizational reforms and increased funding. While the network of community-based psychological and psychotherapeutic care has expanded, access to specialized help remains unequal across different regions. In some areas, such as West Pomerania, waiting times for mental health clinics can reach up to 201 days.

The audit highlighted several critical issues, including psychiatric wards operating at an average occupancy rate of 110 percent and waiting times for certain psychological-pedagogical clinics lasting up to 12 months. There has also been a notable shift in diagnosed conditions; between 2023 and 2025, diagnoses of ADHD increased by 64 percent and developmental disorders by 43 percent.

In the education sector, the number of school psychologists increased by 222 percent between the 2021/22 and 2025/26 school years. However, 13.4 percent of schools still lack a psychologist. NIK noted that while the number of positions has grown, “the number of positions does not measure the quality of therapy,” and ensuring rapid, equitable access regardless of residence remains a significant challenge.