On June 5th in Warsaw, under the patronage of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union and the Polish Psychiatric Association, a high-level roundtable titled "Beyond Mental Health: A Brain Health Approach to Schizophrenia Prevention and Care" was held, organized by the Mental Power Foundation for Brain Health with support from the European Brain Council (EBC). The event emphasized the urgent need to reframe schizophrenia care through a brain health lens, recognizing the complex interplay of biological, psychological, and social factors. With an estimated 250,000 people affected by schizophrenia in Poland and 16,000 new cases annually, experts discussed country-specific barriers and best practices in care delivery. The roundtable highlighted the importance of early intervention, integrated care models, and youth-focused policies, calling for faster diagnosis, education of medical professionals, smoother transitions from pediatric to adult care, and expanded community-based services. Key voices included representatives from the Ministry of Health and Education, the ombudsman's office, WHO, and members of the European and Polish parliaments. Findings from the Polish case study will contribute to the development of European public policy guidelines that integrate a biopsychosocial approach to schizophrenia care, particularly for young people.
