Problems and prospects for the psychiatric service in the Republic of Buryatia (based on an expert focus group study)

The article presents an analysis of the problems and prospects for the development of psychiatric service in the Republic of Buryatia, based on the results of an independent expert focus group study. As experts were selected healthcare organizers and doctors in the clinical specialty «Psychiatry». Mental health morbidity trends in the region, logistical and staffing problems, including low staffing levels and high turnover of doctors have been identified. Expertise in monitoring the quality of psychiatric care and measures to improve care for the mentally ill and to prevent the spread of mental illness is established. The need to strengthen mental health prevention using the media and social media has been substantiated. Promising directions for the development of psychiatric care in the region are proposed. Among the most important are the development of modern information systems and improving the competence of the medical personnel in the psychiatric service of the region.