Czechia needs more young psychiatrists
A quarter of Czech psychiatrists are set to retire in five years. Experts are calling for more students.
Within five years, one in four psychiatrists in Czechia will reach retirement age, and the country is already facing a shortage of hundreds of professionals in the field. Currently, only about 30 psychiatrists complete their studies each year, but experts believe the country needs at least 100 new graduates annually to meet growing demands. This was highlighted in a press release by the Czech Psychiatric Society of the Jan Evangelista Purkyně Czech Medical Association as part of its “Hundred per Year” initiative. Mental health issues in the country have been increasing in recent years, with a rise in hospitalizations and prescriptions for antidepressants.
“In 2023, there were 1,361 practicing psychiatrists in Czechia, 391 of whom are over 60 years old, with 282 already at retirement age. The shortage of child psychiatrists is even more critical, and their numbers are decreasing faster than those of adult psychiatrists. Currently, there are only 131 child psychiatrists in the country,” said Simona Papežová, chairwoman of the Czech Psychiatric Society. She also pointed out that there is a lack of other mental health professionals, including psychiatric nurses, psychotherapists, and clinical psychologists.
While an average of 30 doctors pass the psychiatric specialization exams each year, experts estimate that at least 100 new graduates are needed annually to maintain the current level of mental health care. According to Tomáš Kašpárek, the incoming chair of the Czech Psychiatric Society and head of the Psychiatric Clinic at Masaryk University’s Faculty of Medicine and Brno University Hospital, the goal of the initiative is to attract medical students and raise public awareness about the importance of psychiatry.
“We want to increase awareness of the field, debunk common stereotypes, and showcase the strengths of this dynamic and rapidly developing specialization,” Kašpárek explained. The campaign offers medical students exclusive internships at leading psychiatric institutions, free or discounted access to professional conferences, and opportunities to engage with young psychiatrists and experts in the field.
Kašpárek believes that personal inspiration and interactions with leading figures in Czech psychiatry can be crucial in students' career decisions. He shared his own story, saying, “I’m the son of a psychiatrist. In high school, I read books by Jung and Grof, but I entered medical school with no intention of becoming a psychiatrist. I wanted to be a cardiologist or neonatologist.”
During his time at medical school, Kašpárek was inspired by renowned Czech professors such as Cyril Höschl, Jan Libiger, and Ján Praško. “They showed me the beauty of a field that bridges neuroscience, psychology, and philosophy, and I fell in love with it,” he added. One of his most rewarding experiences is helping patients through difficult periods and seeing them return to everyday life.
