Bridging Mental Health Across Continents: China and Europe Unite for a Collaborative Psychiatry Approach

[October 15, 2024], Verus Bonifatius Klinik, Fulda, Germany 

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Participating Institutions: 

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Singularity Academy, Switzerland www.singularityacademy.ch

Verus Bonifaitus Klinik*, Germany www.verusbonifatius.de

 Zhejiang Tongde Hospital, China https://baike.baidu.com/item/浙江省立同德医院/3323882

 

Participating members: 

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Prof. Dr. Ying Zhang, President, Singularity Academy, Switzerland 

Doctor med. MA Yongchun, Psychiatrist, Zhejiang Tongde Hospital, China

Dr. Urs Lustenberger, CEO, Verus Bonifaitus Klinik*, Germany  

Doctor med. Mild, Chief Doctor / Psychiatrist, Department of Adult Psychiatry, Verus Bonifaitus Klinik*, Germany

Doctor med. Roland, Chief Doctor/ Psychiatrist, Department of Child and Youth Psychiatry, Verus Bonifaitus Klinik*, Germany

*Verus Bonifatius Klinik is a leading private psychosomatic acute hospital in Germany

 

 

In a recent meeting, healthcare professionals from China and Europe explored the integration of traditional methods and modern Western psychiatry to tackle the rising mental health challenges in both regions. The discussions focused on the need for structured, collaborative approaches in mental health treatment, particularly for adolescents and young people facing increasing psychological pressures.

 

A leading voice in the conversation was Doctor Ma Yongchun, a renowned Chinese psychiatry specialist from Zhejiang Tongde Hospital, China, with over a decade of experience in adolescent mental health. Doctor Ma has been at the forefront of addressing the surge in mental health issues among Chinese youth, including rising rates of self-harm and suicidal behavior. His work at one of the largest psychiatric hospitals in China, where he often sees more than 100 patients daily, offers him firsthand insight into the critical need for more systematic, integrative mental health services. Doctor Ma emphasised the challenges of China’s fragmented care system, where collaboration between psychiatrists and psychologists is still underdeveloped.

 

The meeting was organised in collaboration with Verus Bonifatius Klinik, a prestigious mental health and psychosomatic hospital in Germany. Known for its patient- and family-centred, tailor-made treatment approach, the hospital is academically endorsed by Singularity Academy in Switzerland and specialises in a broad range of psychiatric conditions. During the meeting between Verus Bonifatius Klinik and Doctor Ma from Zhejiang Tongde Hospital, China, Dr. Lustenberger, the CEO of Verus Bonifatius Klinik, reaffirmed the clinic’s commitment to fostering international partnerships and advancing global mental health care. He discussed the clinic’s success in integrating human-centred psychiatric care with modern therapies, a model that could benefit mental health systems in regions like China.

 

A key focus of the discussions was adapting Verus Bonifatius Klinik’s long-term, sustainable treatment methods to address China’s mental health challenges. Dr. Lustenberger noted that their approach, which emphasises giving patients the time and space to heal, leads to better, lasting results—contrasting with China’s resource-constrained, rapid-response systems where mental health services are often stretched too thin.

 

Prof. Dr. Ying Zhang, President of Singularity Academy, played a pivotal role in the dialogue. Singularity Academy is an international academic institution focused on innovation and interdisciplinary research. Dr. Zhang highlighted the importance of scholarly collaboration in addressing global mental health challenges. She suggested that partnerships between institutions like Verus Bonifatius Klinik and prominent Chinese universities, such as Fudan University and Beijing Normal University, could lead to groundbreaking research and innovative treatment methods. She also emphasised Singularity Academy’s role in fostering collaboration and developing training programs that could be implemented across Europe, China, and North America.

 

A significant point of discussion was the integration of psychiatry and psychology in China. While Chinese psychiatrists are trained in therapies such as cognitive therapy, hypnosis, and family therapy, there still needs to be more systematic training and collaboration between psychiatrists and psychologists. This gap makes it difficult to provide comprehensive care, particularly in state-run psychosomatic hospitals.

 

Other participants in this meeting, including the chief doctors from Verus Bonifatius Klinik, Doctor Roland, Doctor. Mild, expanded the discussion to include the necessity of modern training programs in psychosomatic hospitals. Many Chinese professionals still lack this level of training, and institutions like Verus Bonifatius Klinik and Singularity Academy could help bridge this gap by developing a more integrated approach for psychologists and therapists in China. The goal is to align diagnostic and treatment methods across regions, ensuring standardized and collaborative care.

 

Doctor Ma and Verus Bonifatius also explored how European expertise could bolster China’s mental health services. This could include remote collaboration between medical teams in Germany and Chinese psychiatrists, providing diagnostic support, training, and joint research opportunities. These collaborations would not only expand practical resources but also lead to academic advancements with international recognition.

 

A particular emphasis was placed on addressing mental health issues among adolescents, particularly those related to school pressures and family dynamics. Verus Bonifatius representatives shared examples of integrative therapies involving families in the treatment process, offering a model that could be highly beneficial for China. 

 

Doctor Ma continued to underscore the urgency of improving mental health care for young people, noting that untreated issues in adolescence can lead to personality disorders and more severe problems in adulthood. He admired the family-focused therapies Verus Bonifatius employed and stressed the need for early intervention.

 

The meeting concluded with plans to explore collaborative training and treatment programs further to foster a shared understanding between Chinese and European healthcare providers. With leadership from Verus Bonifatius Klinik, Singularity Academy, and Doctor Ma, this collaboration aims to improve mental healthcare systems and support more families across continents. Despite the many challenges, there is a growing commitment from all stakeholders to drive meaningful change in global mental health care.