Salzburg, 11 May 2022: At the beginning of May, an experienced team of doctors and therapists specializing in mental health problems started work at the Wehrle-Diakonissen Private Clinic.
The coronavirus pandemic, increased demands in the private and professional environment and the uncertain global situation: the crisis-related events of the last two years have caused additional mental stress for many people, which they are no longer able to cope with on their own.
Depressive symptoms quintupled
"As a study by Danube University Krems shows, the frequency of depressive symptoms has increased fivefold since the start of the pandemic, rising from around five to 25 per cent," reports Dr. Pablo Gil Aguado, specialist in psychiatry and psychotherapeutic medicine. Anxiety and sleep disorders also increased significantly.
"With our new focus on psychosomatics, we are now the only private contact point in the province of Salzburg to offer support for adults who have lost their mental balance and are suffering from acute stress reactions, depression, burn-out, anxiety disorders or panic and obsessive-compulsive disorders, for example," says Dr. Gil Aguado.
The service focuses on inpatient support for people for whom outpatient therapies are currently not feasible due to the complexity of their symptoms. "An interruption to everyday life in the form of a hospital stay is often valuable in order to bring about change and improvement in an acutely difficult situation," explains Dr. Gil Aguado.
Well-established team
The team of doctors and psychotherapists at the center have been working together successfully for years. "We are well-rehearsed and all work according to the premise that treatment is not for the person, but with the person," emphasizes psychotherapist Dr. Ursula Ambach-Weinzierl. "When patients make the decision to seek support at our clinic, they are already taking the most important step towards the necessary change of direction. We want to use the inpatient stay as a phase of new beginnings and reorientation in the interests of the patient and to accompany and support them in the best possible way with our experience and expertise."
An appreciative attitude and an unbiased view of the individual form the basis for modern psychosomatics, which focuses on the complex relationships between the body, psyche and social environment when diagnosing and treating complaints and illnesses. "Of course, we also work closely with other disciplines. Specialist assessments as well as physiotherapy, exercise therapy and nutritional advice are important components of treatment," says Dr. Angelika Schatzmann, a doctor of general medicine, psychosomatics and psychotherapeutic medicine.
Individual treatment plan
"As part of an inpatient admission, we develop a comprehensive, individual treatment plan that primarily includes education, psychopharmacological support, psychotherapeutic discussions and measures to promote resilience," explains psychotherapist Judith Spitzer-Gastager. "By providing guidance, crisis intervention, clarification and multi-professional support for lifestyle changes or changes of direction, we ultimately want to help the people entrusted to us to develop ideas for the future."
It is therefore not just about general stabilization and a reduction in the symptoms of the illness. "Perceiving one's own feelings again, becoming aware of abilities that were thought to have been buried, are key steps to being able to relate to oneself and one's environment again and ultimately being able to formulate perspectives and life goals," says Spitzer-Gastager.
Wehrle-Diakonissen Private Clinic
The Wehrle-Diakonissen Private Clinic in Salzburg-Aigen, part of the PremiQaMed Group, stands for modern diagnostics and medical technology, interdisciplinary cooperation and competent care in a family atmosphere. The range of medical services includes surgery, internal medicine, orthopaedics and spine, women's health and childbirth, skin and aesthetics, ENT and eyes as well as urology. Outpatient, day clinic and inpatient treatments are offered.
PremiQaMed Group
The PremiQaMed Group is a leading operator of private healthcare facilities in Austria and a wholly owned subsidiary of UNIQA Österreich Versicherungen AG. Around 2,000 employees work for the group of companies. The Group includes Privatklinik Döbling, Ambulatorium Döbling and the private clinics Confraternität and Goldenes Kreuz in Vienna, Privatklinik Wehrle-Diakonissen in Salzburg and Privatklinik Graz Ragnitz. As part of private-public partnership (PPP) models with SVS, the PremiQaMed Group operates Klinikum Malcherhof Baden, which specializes in rehabilitation medicine, and the health center for the self-employed in Vienna.
Queries:
Mag. Christina Jungbauer
Communication, PR & Marketing
Deaconesses & Wehrle Private Clinic GmbH
Guggenbichlerstraße 20 - 5026 Salzburg, Austria
T: +43 662 90509 401
