Event Highlights: Beyond Mental Health – A Brain Health Approach to Schizophrenia Prevention and Care

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. 

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. 

Session 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.