ANALYSIS OF PSYCHOTHERAPY SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE IN RELATION TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF LOCAL AND REGIONAL SELF- GOVERNMENT UNITS IN THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA

Abstract

According to the strategic documents of the Republic of Croatia, the protection and promotion of the mental health of children and young people is one of the key tasks of society. An overview of the registers of the Croatian Chamber of Psychotherapists shows that less than 10% of licensed psychotherapists are authorised to work with children and young people. The majority of psychotherapists specialising in work with children and young people practise in the Zagreb area, while the smallest number practise in the Osijek area. The data indicate a deficit of adequately educated psychotherapists, with significant regional inequalities in terms of support for children and young people with mental health difficulties, whereby counties with below-average development have fewer licensed psychotherapists. In addition, the current number of psychotherapists is insufficient to carry out preventive activities in childhood, which form the foundation for stable mental health in adulthood. Considering statistical indicators showing that children and young people with disabilities aged 0 to 19 are most often hospitalised due to associated difficulties, it is evident that psychotherapists, in addition to being adequately educated to work with children and young people in the general population, also need additional education to work with children with developmental disabilities who, due to various biopsychosocial factors, experience associated psychiatric difficulties. Therefore, it is necessary to expand educational programmes in the field of psychotherapy in a manner that makes them physically and financially accessible in different parts of the Republic of Croatia, and to establish and further develop a supervision network for psychotherapists, especially in cities and counties with below-average development. In this way, the sustainability of the system of psychotherapy support and the effective protection of the mental health of children and young people can be ensured.