Introduction
On 5 June 2025, the European Brain Council (EBC) and the Mental Health Power Foundation organised a roundtable titled “Beyond Mental Health – A Brain Health Approach to Schizophrenia Prevention and Care” in Warsaw. Held under the patronage of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union and the Polish Psychiatric Association, this high-level roundtable gathered key stakeholders from healthcare, education, social policy, research and patient organisations. The event provided an opportunity to discuss innovative strategies for improved schizophrenia prevention and care in Poland, within a broader European brain health framework.
Key Takeaways
- Shift to Prevention: Move from crisis-based to prevention-oriented care models.
- Enhance Integration: Improve coordination across education, health and social services.
- Empower Youth and Families: Strengthen peer-support and family involvement.
- Invest in Digital and Research Tools: Leverage technology responsibly and promote translational brain health research.
- EU Leadership: Position Poland’s reforms as a model within broader EU brain health strategies.
Welcome & Opening Remarks
The roundtable was officially opened by representatives from EBC, the Polish Ministries of Health and Education, the Medical University of Warsaw and a video address from MEP Adam Jarubas (Poland, EPP), Chair of the Public Health Committee of the European Parliament. Speakers highlighted the urgent need for systemic reform in mental health services, with a particular emphasis placed on youth mental health. The opening remarks stressed the importance of shifting from a fragmented and crisis-driven care to early, integrated and preventive approaches rooted in a brain health perspective.
Keynote Addresses
Two keynote presentations set the scene of the roundtable. Prof. Dominika Dudek started by providing an overview of the current state of child and adolescent psychiatry services in Poland, underlining the gaps in access, funding and multidisciplinary care. Prof. Małgorzata Janas-Kozik then advocated for the adoption of a brain health approach to schizophrenia care, stressing the need to promote early detection and continuous care to prevent long-term disability.
“This event is significant due to the involvement of the Polish government and the EU Presidency, highlighting fruitful international cooperation, especially with the European Psychiatric Association. With mental health as a leading global health burden, the Rethinking schizophrenia project showcases how collaboration can improve patients’ quality of life.”
Frédéric Destrebecq, European Brain Council“The Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union takes the issue of mental health very seriously, which provides a unique opportunity to discuss the next steps towards protecting patients.”
Pavel Mohr, European Psychiatric Association“The mental health of children and young people is one of the key areas of interest for the Ministry of National Education. The ministry is taking many steps to minimise the fragmentation of activities and to mobilise those responsible for children’s mental health to work together.”
Session 1: Setting the Scene – The State of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services in Poland
The first panel highlighted serious structural challenges in the Polish schizophrenia care pathways, from unequal access to child and adolescent mental health services to the lack of trained personnel in schools, by fragmented coordination between healthcare and education systems. Parents and caregivers emphasised the importance of including families in care planning, while patient representatives called for better support to community-based initiatives and peer-led programs.
Key Takeaways:
- Prevention and early intervention remain insufficiently developed in Poland’s healthcare system.
- There is a strong need to address stigma and improve mental health literacy among families and educators.
- Schools should play a central role in detecting early warning signs but are currently under-resourced.
Session 2: Barriers and Opportunities in Youth-Focused Integrated Care
The second session focused on improving the continuity of care and addressing social determinants of health. Panelists agreed that siloed systems and bureaucratic barriers hinder coordinated care. Suggestions included the expansion of peer-support networks, improving digital health literacy and intersectoral communication, particularly between the education, health and social care sectors.
Key Takeaways:
- Early intervention programs must extend beyond healthcare to include schools and families.
- There is an urgent need for a unified electronic system to track patient pathways across sectors.
- Digital tools, when used responsibly, could empower youth and promote mental health self-management.
“We see a need to support parents of children with mental disorders, both psychologically and organisationally, so that they feel safe and have a stable support system. It is necessary to move from ad hoc programmes to permanent, integrated systemic solutions. I hope that Poland’s Presidency of the Council of the EU drives lasting change in youth mental health.”
Iwona Kozłowska, Parliamentary Team for Central Nervous System Diseases“Poland’s efforts in youth mental health are well regarded in the EU, especially for quickly building a modern care model that operates in natural environments and combines prevention with specialist support.”
Aleksandra Lewandowska, Polish Country Consultant in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry“WHO data shows worsening youth mental health in the region. A pan-European coalition is developing adaptable standards, with a pilot project underway to test their feasibility and effectiveness.”
Jennifer Hall, World Health OrganizationSession 3: From Research to Policy – Building a Brain Health Framework for Schizophrenia Prevention
This final session examined how scientific insights can guide policy reform. Experts stressed that schizophrenia prevention should not be limited to psychiatry but integrated into broader brain health strategies, including neurology and public health. The importance of EU-wide coordination, data sharing and research funding was underlined, alongside the need for ethical guidelines regarding AI and digital health technologies in psychiatry.
Key Takeaways:
- Brain health should be recognised as a lifelong continuum, with schizophrenia prevention starting early in life.
- Multidisciplinary and cross-sectoral collaboration is essential to success.
- Lessons from Poland could inform future EU and international policies on mental health and brain disorders.
Closing Reflections and Next Steps
In their closing remarks, representatives of EBC and the Polish Psychiatric Association commended the roundtable for its forward-looking discussions, which will play an instrumental role in informing the conclusions of the 3rd phase of the Rethinking Schizophrenia project. The need for continuous stakeholder engagement, monitoring of reform outcomes and knowledge exchange between EU Member States was emphasised.
“International cooperation through the European Brain Council and the European Psychiatric Association led to a study on schizophrenia care in nine countries. It identified three main issues: limited access to services (with 70% noting major gaps), low awareness of early intervention (40% unaware of centers), and poor continuity of care, as many patients switch doctors between hospital and outpatient treatment.”
Jerzy Samochowiec, Pomeranian Medical University“Schizophrenia prevention and care demand a paradigm shift—one that moves beyond traditional mental health models toward a brain health approach that integrates biological, psychological, and social determinants from an early age.”
Vinciane Quoidbach, European Brain Council