Mental Healthcare in Hungary vs UK: How is it Different?

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In this article, we discuss the differences between the UK and Hungary’s mental healthcare systems.

In 2022, mental health is rarely out of the headlines, with many celebrities and even members of the British Royal Family lending their voices to campaigns to increase awareness.

Having these conversations about mental health is fundamental to ending the stigma. But, it is ultimately down to governments to provide adequate treatment and support. With an increase in cases of psychiatric negligence across the globe, below we’re going to look at how mental healthcare differs in Hungary vs UK…

UK Mental Healthcare

Mental healthcare in the UK is primarily accessed through the National Health Service (NHS) and is free of charge. The first step is usually to visit a GP who will then be able to refer the patient to a mental health specialist. UK mental healthcare is broken down into three separate categories, and these are:

3 Categories of Mental Healthcare in the UK

Primary Care

This first point of call is when a patient who is experiencing mental health difficulties will contact their GP. The GP will usually speak with the patient to ascertain the type of mental health problem and then, having made an initial diagnosis, will usually refer the patient to the relevant professional. In some cases, however, a GP may be able to prescribe medication to the patient in a bid to control the symptoms.

Secondary Care

A patient may be referred to secondary care if the problem is outside of the GP’s expertise and, types of secondary care include:

• Community mental health teams
• Crisis resolution teams
• Home treatment teams
• Outreach and early intervention teams
• Hospital care

Tertiary Care

This third level of mental healthcare may be required if the patient is experiencing extreme mental health difficulties and needs expert specialised treatment. This kind of care will often involve a hospital stay and will include intensive and prolonged therapies.

What is Being Done to Improve Mental Healthcare in the UK?

Whilst UK healthcare services may look good on paper, dig a little deeper and it’s often a picture of negligence and underfunding. One of the most prevalent forms of mental illness in the UK is dementia, something which affects over 850,000 people every year and which is devastating to sufferers and their loved ones who are often tasked with their care.

Despite a pledge to raise funding for dementia care from £83 million to £160 million, the UK government instead cut funding to £75 million this year. With dementia services being constantly overwhelmed, many patients are cared for by a loved one who receives just £69.70 per week. This is an insulting amount when, often, these people have to give up work in order to care for somebody.

As well as conditions such as dementia, severe mental illness is an increasing problem in the UK. Around 0.9% of the UK population suffer from some form of severe mental illness such as schizophrenia, psychosis and bipolar affective disorder (also known as manic depression).

Underfunding means that many of these patients do not receive the care that they need, when they need it and, in extreme cases, this can lead to violence, self-harm and even suicide. As well as posing a danger to the sufferer and those around them, this puts increasing pressure on the police service who, in 2017, received 9000 calls from just five mental health patients.

Hungary Mental Healthcare

General healthcare in Hungary is provided and paid for through the Health Insurance Fund, which is an insurance-based funding. This means that Hungarian residents pay annual insurance in order to receive healthcare.

Shockingly, there is no legislation to govern mental health services in Hungary. In 2009, legislation was passed for The National Programme for Mental Health, however, this has yet to receive any financing from the Hungarian government.

The situation for mental health patients in Hungary was further harmed in 2006 when the Hungarian government reduced the number of beds on psychiatry wards. They also closed the largest in-patient mental health hospital, the National Psychiatry and Neurology Institute.

As well as a prevalence of mental health issues such as dementia and bipolar disorder, Hungary has the second highest EU rate of suicide, with extremely high rates of alcohol and drug addiction, which adds to the overall mental health situation in the country.

While there are some civil organisations which offer help to mental health patients, such as The Hungarian Alzheimer Society, a combination of a lack of legislation and, the fact that healthcare in Hungary is funded by insurance payments, means that the Hungarian landscape is bleak for mental health patients in Hungary.

UK Mental Healthcare vs Hungary Mental Healthcare

Whilst mental healthcare in the UK is by no means robust, there are systems and processes in place through which sufferers can get the help that they need. As we’ve mentioned, mental health services in the UK have suffered numerous blows to funding in recent years, with the government citing reasons such as the pandemic for funneling mental healthcare funds elsewhere.

Although the majority of people feel that the UK government falls woefully short when it comes to funding and provision of mental healthcare services, these services are available to all, free of charge and, there is legislation in place to ensure that funding is received by the organisations that need it.

There are two major problems when it comes to mental healthcare in Hungary. The first is that there is no central body in place to regulate, co-ordinate and ensure funding for mental healthcare services. This often means that patients either don’t have access to the care that they need or, simply don’t know where to look for it. The second problem is that of health insurance.

In Hungary, healthcare services are available to those who pay annual insurance premiums. Although most people pay these premiums in order to have access to care, many, people suffering from drug and alcohol addictions, will often fail to secure insurance. This, in turn, means that in too many cases, help is not available to the people who need it most.

Is the UK’s Mental Healthcare System Better?

Although it can be said that mental healthcare in the UK fails in many ways, it’s clear that the system, while flawed, is superior to that which is endured by patients in Hungary. Despite cutting funding to mental healthcare services this year by almost £10 million, the majority of patients do, eventually, receive mental healthcare services.

Unfortunately, the mental healthcare situation in Hungary means that a huge number of patients simply do not have access to the care that they so desperately need. This leads to a serious deterioration of conditions such as bipolar disorder which can usually be controlled relatively easily.

Whilst the 2009 National Programme for Mental Health offered some hope for those suffering mental illness in Hungary, funding for this essential programme is still proving to be elusive. Until the Hungarian government prioritises funding for mental health in the country, the fear is that the rates of severe mental illness, and suicide, will continue to rise; moving Hungary further and further away from the standards enjoyed by most EU countries.

Please be advised that this article is for general informational purposes only, and should not be used as a substitute for advice from a trained medical professional. Be sure to consult a medical professional or healthcare provider if you’re seeking medical or mental health advice, diagnoses, or treatment. We are not liable for risks or issues associated with using or acting upon the information on this site.

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