Mobility in Psychiatry: A Personal Experience in Swiss Addictology

Abstract

Introduction

Switzerland is a very attractive country for workforce brain drain in the field of psychiatry, with work, academic and financial conditions identified as pull factors; resulting in long-term migration and high level of satisfaction [1].

Objectives

To enlight the phenomenon by reporting a personal experience of migration from France to Switzerland for work reasons as a psychiatrist.

Aims

To describe the main characteristics of the Swiss Mental Health Care in the Canton of Vaud focused on ambulatory cares in addictology.

Methods

Self-report description from the Centre Saint-Martin for drug addictions of the Community Psychiatry Department in Vaudois Teaching Hospital (CHUV) of Lausanne.

Results

The Centre Saint-Martin is an ambulatory center providing cares, support, treatment and harm reduction for adult drug addictions within a multidisciplinary team. The striking point of this model is the intense support made towards the community (general practionners, somatic and psychiatric cares) in order to maintain and develop addiction cares in the general health system. The case management model, still rare in France, is being implemented in the center resources management. Detailed descriptions are proposed.

Lack of psychiatrists in the French speaking Canton of Vaud makes it very attractive for European specialists. Work and academic facilities, including psychotherapy training are accessible to foreign psychiatrists.

Conclusions

Work migration is a unique way to experience different practices in psychiatry within Europe. Living and working conditions in Switzerland make it a country particularly attractive.

Disclosure of interest

The author has not supplied his/her declaration of competing interest.