Sustainability and longevity of a psychiatric activity network in Slovenia: proposal services to child psychiatry

The balance between cost and work effectiveness is best optimised with an appropriate mix of profiles and experiences. The article presents mathematical equations and calculations of requirements for a given mental disorder and requirements per personnel for all mental disorders. In theory, all forms of treatment could be performed by a pedopsychiatrist, but this would unnecessarily raise the price of services due to the more expensive education and payment of doctors. One solution would be a compromise, where a significant part of the children who do not need drug therapy can be monitored by non-medical personnel. It would surely be necessary to divide the work into three categories: into cases where pedopsychiatry takes a leading role, cases where the remaining institutions take the lead, and cases where the approach should be multilayered from the very beginning. Pedopsychiatry will also gain in the long-term by reinforcing the interest of parents and other relatives, and by encouraging the organisation of self-help groups. The data and thoughts presented in this article should be a challenge for debate among all parties involved in any adaptation or even transformation of pedopsychiatric services in Slovenia.