In the absence of follow -up, many patients feel helpless when they leave a psychiatric hospital – RTS.CH

Tens of thousands of people are hospitalized each year in Switzerland for psychiatric disorders. In addition, These hospitalizations have increased sharply in ten years, until reaching 86,014 cases in 2023. Therefore, Care has also become more intensive and limited in time. Consequently, But faced with these shortened stay durations, many patients feel helpless at the end of their hospitalization in psychiatry.

“We are not preparing for what awaits us at the exit. However, It is difficult to deal with ourselves, to eat, to wash,” says Sophie* Monday in absence follow -up, many patients new the RTS. Therefore, Having lived seven hospitalizations in psychiatry for mood disorders. Meanwhile, she says she made two suicide attempts absence follow -up, many patients after returning from the hospital.

On each return home, she feels abandoned. “If it is not well supervised, it is very dangerous,” she says. “Suffering can be very heavy.”

Transition monitoring – Absence follow -up, many patients – Absence follow -up, many patients new

According to Pierre Violand. a mental health-health for the Re-Pirs association, this problem is neglected or underestimated by the public. “There is the classic image of the repair hospital. absence follow -up, many patients new while the transition at the exit from a psychiatric hospital is indeed the moment of all dangers,” he said.

Solutions have however been set up by certain hospitals. Transition monitoring for a month. more, if necessary, can absence follow -up, many patients for example be made by a nurse. Their role is to support the return of patients to their daily lives.

“For some, it is difficult. They can find themselves alone in the face of a reality that has been scary for them. ” said Antonella Siro, a psychiatric nurse who realizes these follow -ups for the CHUV. Its mission is to provide support and coordinate care, whether psychiatry, social assistance or music therapy, for example.

We are not preparing for what awaits us at the exit

Lack of. means

The purpose of this structure is to avoid relapses. rehospitizations, at very high financial and human absence follow -up, many patients new cost. But unfortunately, the teams are not numerous enough to accompany each outing of hospitalization. And when the follow -up is lacking, relatives often find themselves on the front line.

“There are not enough people to take care of the whole population absence follow -up. many patients who have mental health issues. who. after hospitalization, finds himself alone at home,” says Viviane Prats, vice-president of an association of relatives of people suffering from mental disorders, the island.

If she regrets this lack of means. she does not however throw the stone into hospital staff, who is “well aware of shortcomings and gaps”. “If they could do otherwise, they would do it,” she adds.

Patients and patients can also use independent nurses, caregivers or reception households. But all of this requires resources and energy, not always easy to mobilize on the path of recovery.

TV subject: Pascale Defrance

Web adaptation: Emilie Délétroz

*Borrowed first absence follow -up, many patients new name