Reform of Mental Health Services in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5644/Radovi.350Keywords:
mental health, reconstruction of health care systemAbstract
Pre-war psychiatric services in B&H were one of the best-organized in former Yugoslavia. The psychiatric care system was based on psychiatric hospitals and small neuropsychiatry wards within general hospitals, accompanied by psychiatric Services in Community health center.
The war disaster brought demolition of numerous traditional psychiatric institutions. Moreover, psychiatric morbidity increased with massive psychological suffering of the whole civilian population. Already during the war, and even more so after the war, the reconstruction and reorganization of the mental health Services was undertaken.
The basis of mental health care for the future is designed a system where majority of Services are located in the community. The key role is assigned to primary health care (Family practitioners). Community based mental health centers (MHC) will be responsible for prevention and treatment of psychiatric disorders.
Chronic mental patients who are not able to live independently will be accommodated in designated homes and other forms of supporting living arrangement within the communities.
The principal change in mental health policy in B&H was a decision to transfer psychiatric Services from traditional facilities into the community, much closer to patients.
Basic elements of the mental health policy in B&H are: decentralization and sectorization of mental health Services, intersectoral activity, comprehensiveness of Services, equality in access and utilization of psychiatric Service resources, nationwide accessibility of mental health Services, continuity of Services and care, together with the active participation of the community.
This paper will discuss the primary health as the basic component of thc comprehensive mental health care in greater detail, including tasks for family medicine teams as well as for each individual member.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Slobodan Loga, Ismet Cerić
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