Mental health services in Croatia-current perspectives and future challenges.
We examine the current state and challenges of mental health services in the Republic of Croatia, a Central European country with a population of 3.87 million. Croatia's healthcare system delivers mental health services across primary, secondary, and tertiary levels, largely supported by the Croatian Health Insurance Fund, which administers the country's universal healthcare system, ensuring wide accessibility. Key policy frameworks include the Strategic Framework for the Development of Mental Health until 2030 and the Action Plan in Addictions. However, challenges persist, including a lack of community-based approaches, underfunding, and workforce shortages, particularly in child and adolescent psychiatry. The paper also highlights the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and Croatia's 2020 earthquake on mental health services, emphasizing a transition toward telepsychiatry and mobile psychiatric teams. Additionally, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is underscored as a significant public health issue in Croatia.