Psychiatric health brought to the fore

In conjunction with World Mental Health Day, Poland's oldest psychiatric health hospital in Świecie nad Wisłą is organizing a conference which aims to draw attention to psychological problems in society. "The World Health Organization's definition of health says that health is a holistic concept of physical, psychological and social well-being. This means that people cannot be fully healthy, when social, political or economic conditions are not optimal," claimed Danuta Górska, director at the Psychoactive Drug Addiction Therapy Clinic in Słupsk. Górska further said that depression is one of many modern diseases on the rise. Affluence has brought increased stress for many and drugs, alcohol, work, shopping or sex as an escape mechanism, she said for Głos Pomorza. According to Polskie Radio PIK, 9 million Poles suffer from some sort of psychological illness. "Psychological health continues to be a taboo subject in Poland," said Wiesław Kiełbasińskie, Director of the hospital in Świecie. "Our patron dr. Józef Bednarz once exclaimed, 'Our nation is measured by the manner in which it takes care of its mentally ill.' "