Psychiatry

​Psychiatry evaluates and treats patients who have mental health disturbances. Specialities in psychiatry include child, adolescent, adult, and forensic psychiatry, and areas of expertise include geriatric psychiatry, and substance use psychiatry, among others.

The most common reasons for entering psychiatric specialized health care are life situation crises, psychosis (e.g. schizophrenia), difficult and chronic depression, difficult personality disorders, suicidal thoughts, or attempted suicide. Patients always require a referral, from e.g. a general practitioner in a health centre.

Evaluation and treatment of mental health disorders is usually performed at outpatient clinics, or as inpatient treatment under a short hospitalization period. The majority of treatments take place at the psychiatry outpatient clinics.

Treatment is implemented according to a treatment plan. The plan is based on research and it is made together with the patient, and with the patient's family if necessary.

A multidisciplinary team is responsible for the evaluation and treatment. We use and apply treatment methods based on research and evidence.

HUS provides psychiatric outpatient and inpatient care in HUH Hospitals Jorvi, Peijas and Western Uusimaa, as well as in the hospital areas of Hyvinkää, Lohja and Porvoo. We also provide centralized services, e.g. treatment for eating disorders.

In Helsinki, treatment for patients over the age of 18 is provided by the city’s Social Services and Health Care.