Characteristics and staff resources of child and adolescent psychiatric hospital wards in Finland

Abstract

The aim of this study is to describe structural characteristics and staff resources of child psychiatric and adolescent psychiatric hospital wards in Finland. The target group of the survey consisted of 69 child and adolescent psychiatric hospital units in Finland. Information was obtained from 64 units (93%). Most of the wards were based on 24-h-a-day provision. There were only 7-day-treatment programmes including two family wards. When compared internationally, the numbers of units, beds and staff levels were high in Finland, with all members of staff qualified. The nurse-patient ratio and psychiatrist resources were rather satisfactory. However, in many units there was a lack of psychologists, social workers and occupational therapists. General recommendations and guidelines for staff resources in child and adolescent hospital treatment wards are warranted.

Multi-center nationwide study on pediatric psychiatric inpatients 2000–2018: length of stay, recurrent hospitalization, functioning level, suicidality, violence and diagnostic profiles

“…We collected comprehensive nationwide survey data from all CAP wards in Finland during the study years. The 2000 and 2011 data have previously been reported [14,15,26,34,[39][40][41][42][43][44] and this study extends the findings by another eight years. The same methodology and excellent coverage of the data has given us a unique possibility to examine the changes from 2000 to 2018.…”

Ideology of Nursing Care in Child Psychiatric Inpatient Treatment

“…Indeed, compared with other European countries, the number of psychiatric inpatient beds for children and adolescents is quite high in Finland. 25 Children and adolescents treated in psychiatric inpatient wards form a heterogeneous patient group. They usually have mixed disorders and multiple diagnoses, and have often experienced poor relationships in families that have severe socioeconomic difficulties.…”

Perceptions of mental healthcare professionals regarding inpatient therapy programmes for adolescents in the Eastern Cape, South Africa

“…Ellilӓ et al (2005) and Gearing and Mian (2005) argue that children and adolescents cannot be treated according to the same principles and protocols that govern adult psychiatric inpatient programmes. For example, adolescents need different support and guidance in the ward than adult patients (Curran et al 2011).…”