Mental Health Improvement Through Physical Therapy: Polish Perspective

Abstract

Among people suffering from mental conditions increased prevalence of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension and respiratory disease is observed, with considerably higher levels of morbidity and mortality. Still, mental conditions are neglected and not treated equally to other medical states in Poland. It is commonly believed that psychiatric patients are violent and unpredictable, even though they are more likely to be a victim of violence themselves. This attitude, reinforced by media coverage and observed also among health care workers, results in unwillingness to have any relations with mental patients due to fear of them being aggressive. Connection between physical well-being and mental health is well known. Physical therapists have necessary knowledge and skills to support development of individual independence, anxiety management and lifestyle control in order to keep patients healthier. It can be done by specially designed treatment programmes consisting of exercises, manual techniques and physical medicine procedures. Lack of understanding of this valuable connection results in insufficient emphasis on the presence of physiotherapist in the multidisciplinary therapeutic team on psychiatric wards nationwide. The study focuses on summary of the current situation in Poland and starts discussion on possible areas of improvements.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.