Psychiatry reform 2026: mental health centers for informed patients
The reform of psychiatry in Poland has been discussed for years, but only the pilot of mental health centers showed in practice what care closer to the patient — and not only in large hospitals — can look like. The Ministry of Health announces that from 2026 the community-based model is to become the foundation of the system across the country, and mental health centers (CZP) will be the main "entry gates" to treatment.
What exactly does the 2026 psychiatry reform envisage?
The health ministry and the Council for Mental Health emphasize that the priority for 2026 is further strengthening community-based care and giving mental health centers stable legal and financial foundations. In practice this means:
continuation and expansion of the CZP pilot until the end of 2026, so that the organization and financing can be refined,
eventual coverage of the whole of Poland with a network of mental health centers, not only selected counties,
changes in the regulations (e.g.. the Act on Mental Health Protection), which are intended to simplify the process of referring a patient and increase the flexibility of care.
Experts point out that without permanently embedding community psychiatry into the system — rather than continuous "piloting" — it is hard to speak of a stable reform.
What are mental health centers?
Mental health centers are places meant to provide comprehensive care close to the patient’s place of residence — with an emphasis on community-based treatment rather than only inpatient beds in a 24-hour ward.
Typical elements of a CZP include:
an intake and coordination point where one can get information and arrange an initial consultation,
a mental health clinic for adults and/or children,
a community-based treatment team (a specialist’s visit to the patient’s home, if needed),
a psychiatric day ward offering intensive therapy without the need for a 24-hour hospital stay.
The idea of CZP is that a person in crisis does not have to start their journey from a hospital emergency department, but can receive help at a local center in a more continuous and integrated way.
Mental health centers in Łódź – what is already operating?
In Łódź and the region there are already facilities implementing the assumptions of community-based care:
Centrum Zdrowia Psychicznego MULTIMED at Przędzalniana 1/3 in Łódź – offering psychiatric, psychological and psychotherapeutic help for adults under contract with NFZ,
mental health clinics and community-based treatment teams operating at large centers, e.g. at CKD in Łódź (with a clinic, a community treatment team and an intake and coordination point),
specialist centers for children and adolescents, e.g.. the Centre for Psychiatric and Psychological Assistance for Youth at Bardowskiego 1.
The latest information on available facilities and appointment dates can be checked in the NFZ Treatment Appointment Finder by filtering for "mental health clinic" for Łódź and the Łódź Voivodeship.
What does this mean for informed patients and people in business?
For informed patients — including entrepreneurs and leaders — the psychiatry reform and the development of CZP mean several important changes:
easier access to help (intake point, day ward, community team) without the need to immediately end up in a 24-hour hospital ward,
a greater chance for continuity of care (one team managing treatment rather than "scattered" visits in different places),
the possibility to combine treatment with work and family life, since increasing emphasis is placed on day therapy and working in the patient’s environment rather than only hospitalization.
From the perspective of business and decision-makers, community-based care is gaining importance because it allows quicker reactions to crises within a team and among leaders — so that situations do not escalate to the point where the only solution is a long hospital stay.
How to benefit from this reform from the private perspective?
Public reform will not replace everything happening in the private sector, but it can complement it. An informed patient can:
use CZP and NFZ clinics where long-term, community-based care is needed,
simultaneously seek private support (psychiatrist, psychotherapy, consultations for leaders) where time, flexibility and the possibility of deeper work on lifestyle and regulation of the nervous system matter.
At Holistica I follow changes in the system in order to best "integrate" private care with what mental health centers offer — so that the patient does not have to choose between "public" and "private", but has as coherent a support pathway as possible.
Where to look for up-to-date information
Current communications regarding the psychiatry reform and mental health centers are published by the Ministry of Health on its website, e.g.. in the context of extending the CZP pilot until the end of 2026 and the planned implementation of the community-based model nationwide. It is also worth following reports from the Council for Mental Health and statements from the Commissioner for Human Rights, who emphasizes the importance of a permanent, not "temporary", character of CZP.
If you live in Łódź or the region and are wondering where you can realistically seek help, a good first step is to contact your local CZP or mental health clinic and check service availability in the NFZ Appointment Finder.
