Mental Health Professionals from U.S., Poland Share Experiences, Best Practices

Albany Medical College’s Department of Psychiatry recently hosted nine mental health professionals from Poland as part of the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program.

Comprised of psychotherapists, and specialists in women’s health, child protection, and crisis intervention, the Polish delegation was in the U.S. to learn about community-based models for addressing mental health challenges, with a special focus on those suffering from trauma.

According to department Chair Jeffrey Winseman, MD, Albany Med providers see a high level of patients of all ages with trauma in their background, including acute, chronic, and complex trauma. To that end, protocols in the pediatric emergency department include screening all patients for trauma and the risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Differences in the types of trauma experienced by those in the U.S. and in Poland were also discussed: While most of the trauma in the U.S. tends to be relationship or interpersonal-based, the trauma seen by the Polish providers, many of whom have worked with Ukrainian refugees, is often due to war.

The providers, which included psychologist and Clinic Director Mark Lukowitsky, PhD, inpatient psychiatrist and Associate Director of the Psychiatry Residency Kelsey Martin, DO, and lead pediatric psychologist Adam Morris, PhD, also discussed the challenges of caring for those in rural communities, and how those in remote areas in both the U.S. and Poland are often more resistant to mental health care. In those cases, Dr. Winseman noted, technology, including telehealth options, can be helpful, and access to a case management system or support services is essential.

Both sets of providers extolled the value of group therapy, especially for first responders or others who have faced a traumatic event together, as well as the healing benefits of art, music, and animal therapies.

As the only academic health center on their schedule, the Polish providers also had questions about the training and curriculum for the College’s medical students, psychiatry residents, and post-doctoral fellows.

Coordinated locally by the International Center of the Capital Region, Albany was the Polish delegation’s final stop in a three-week visit to the U.S. that also included meetings and workshops in Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Sacramento, and Pittsburgh.