Professional policy
SBAP represents the political, professional and economic interests of its members and the interests of applied psychology at the national level.
To this end, SBAP is represented in various bodies, enters into alliances with organizations with common interests, takes a position on relevant professional policy issues and attempts to put the concerns of its members on the political agenda.
Comments
The Future Council U24, consists of a committee of about 80 drawn, representative young people aged 16-24 living in Switzerland. This year, they are addressing the question "What measures should Switzerland take to create framework conditions for improving the mental health of young people - especially in the areas of education, work, leisure, family and health services?". We were asked to provide input on this, which will serve as a basis for work and discussion for the Future Council U24.
03.08.23
The Swiss Professional Association for Applied Psychology submitted a statement in the consultation on the "Revision of the EPDG: Transitional Financing and Consent (incl. Implementation Law)".
22.04.2023
The Swiss Professional Association for Applied Psychology dissociates itself from the narrative around satanic violent crimes advocated by certain psychotherapists and/or psychiatrists.
The trigger for a statement was differentiated reporting on Swiss television in 2022 and 2023.
20.2.2023
We would like to inform you that on 15.12.22 the Basel Grand Council passed the HIS motion with 57 votes in favor (33 against). We are very pleased that the parliament has listened to the many signatories, including the SBAP.
The signatories of the open letter demanded that the HIS should not be located on the same campus as Basel Psychiatry. This is because there are still reservations in society about inpatient psychiatry. The low-threshold offer would be much more likely to be used that way.
22.12.2022
The SBAP has submitted a statement on the preliminary draft of the partial revision of the Federal Law on Tobacco Products and Electronic Cigarettes (TabPG). Conclusion: The monitoring regarding consumption and the monitoring regarding advertising are insufficient.
25.11.2022
The SBAP was invited by the FOPH to consult on the quality strategy and the four-year objectives in relation to Art. 58 KVG (quality contracts, quality assurance measures, quality development).
As a member organization of the svbg, the SBAP has submitted the jointly prepared statement. In particular, it argues for greater involvement of the service provider associations concerned. It also criticizes the fact that the legislator is making contradictory demands with regard to "data protection". On the one hand, there is the Data Protection Act, and on the other hand, there are demands to publish data. The associations advocate good data protection and speak out against direct comparisons at the level of individual service providers in the field of psychotherapy.
30.08.2021
SBAP was invited by the Federal Chancellery to comment on the total revision of the Ordinance on Human Genetic Testing (GUMG; SR 810.12) including the Ordinance on DNA profiling in civil and administrative matters.
The implementing legislation to be adapted to the new GUMG comprises the Ordinance on Human Genetic Testing (GUMV, SR 810.122.1, responsibility: FDHA) and the Ordinance on DNA Profiling in Civil and Administrative Matters (VDZV, SR 810.122.2, responsibility: FDJP). Among other things, the requirements for specialists who are allowed to carry out genetic tests, the licensing requirements for genetic laboratories and data protection aspects are newly regulated.
02.10.2020
The partial revision of the KVG and the KVV to strengthen quality and efficiency pursues the goal of promoting the coordination and improvement of quality development in medical care and patient safety. To implement the KVG revision, the Health Insurance Ordinance (KVV) must be amended.
SBAP welcomes the efforts to emphasize the importance of quality criteria. If the change of psychological psychotherapy from the delegation to the prescription model is carried out, the psychologists' & psychotherapists' associations themselves will become representatives of the service providers and thus a quality contract will become topical. He is looking forward to the task of working out a suitable contract with the insurer associations concerned.
17.08.2020
As a professional association, we express ourselves on topics in the context of psychotherapy and psychological support. The well-being and dignity of the human being are always at the center of our actions.
Article in the Tages-Anzeiger from June 24, 2021
24.02.2020
Psychotherapists welcome the Federal Council's proposal to reorganize psychological psychotherapy. The amendment helps to eliminate the existing supply bottlenecks in rural regions and among children and adolescents. The psychotherapists have concerns about the limitation of the duration of therapy to fifteen sessions, which is too little.
17.10.2019
In order to ensure uniform legislation, the provisions on professional practice in the Psychology Professions Act (PsyG) and those in the Medical Professions Act (MedBG) will be adapted accordingly together with the implementing legislation for the GesBG. SBAP welcomes these adjustments and calls for the replacement of the delegation model to restore coherence in the PsyG.
10.01.2019
For the Swiss Professional Association for Applied Psychology (SBAP) it is a matter of course that we do not tolerate any misuse of public funds and services. Controlling about it, however, must be even less harmful to the weakest in our society who deserve support money.
Bern, 07.06.2019 - As of September 1, 2019, social security funds are to be able to conduct observations in the fight against fraud. At its meeting on June 7, 2019, the Federal Council adopted the ordinance provisions on observations. The specialists for observations require a license and receive specifications on the protection of privacy and the use of technical equipment.
On the report on the results of the consultation procedure from the FSIO (7.6.2019)
To the media release from the Federal Council on the further procedure (7.6.2019)
The Swiss Professional Association of Applied Psychology (SBAP) welcomes in principle the intention to introduce uniform financing of outpatient and inpatient treatments (EFAS). However, it rejects the preliminary draft submitted by the Commission for Social Security and Health of the National Council (SGK-NR).
14.09.2018
Statement on the revision of the recognition regulations for teaching diplomas
The Swiss Conference of Cantonal Ministers of Education (EDK) is responsible for the nationwide recognition of teaching diplomas for compulsory and baccalaureate schools. It is now undergoing a total revision of its regulations. In our statement, we request equal treatment of university and university of applied sciences degrees, as regulated in the Psychology Professions Act (PsyG).
EDK report, August 2018: Unfortunately, a majority of the hearing participants - including 14 cantons - opposed the admission of graduates of a university of applied sciences degree program to vocational training for teaching at Matura schools, which was proposed as a variant in Article 5(3) of the draft.
SBAP Opinion.
Report EDK (August 2018).
30.06.2018
Profunda-suisse, the association of career counseling professionals, is developing a position paper that it wanted to be adopted at the upcoming general meeting on March 22, 2018. The association has invited members and interested parties to comment on it. Here you can find the statement of the SBAP.
21.12.2017
The SBAP has commented on the consultation of the basic document "Prevention in Health Care" within the framework of the national strategy of non-communicable diseases (NCD). In principle, we welcome the aim of this concept and are pleased that prevention is to be strengthened. It is a concern of the SBAP that more is done to ensure that healthy people remain healthy, especially psychologically.
For more detailed responses, see the SBAP statement, "Preventive Health Care."
15.09.2017
SBAP has commented on the ongoing revision project "Amendment of the Ordinance on the Determination and Adjustment of Rate Structures in Health Insurance".
SBAP - Statement on the Tarmed consultation procedure
BAG - Amendment of the Ordinance on the Establishment and Adjustment of Rate Structures in Health Insurance
19.06.2017
Recent studies, reports, etc.
Last year, the SVBG's IG Tarife developed the position paper "Therapy and care at a physical distance". In it, the SVBG sets out principles regarding "Therapy and care at a distance".
On March 11, 2022, the Federal Council adopted the strategy for quality development in health insurance (quality strategy): it further develops and updates the quality strategy adopted by the Federal Council in 2009 and its concretization in the report of May 25, 2011. Based on the new quality strategy, the Federal Council's four-year goals and the EQC's annual goals for quality development are defined.
SBAP will work with partner associations ASP and FSP to negotiate quality contracts with insurers.
The University of Fribourg has evaluated 736 studies on behalf of the FOPH. The results of this work are available in French, the German summary can be found on page 8-10.
Study on the impact of psychosocial risk factors on the development of noncommunicable diseases.
The factors considered are stress, sleep, social isolation, and rest/relaxation. For all four factors, there is a substantial association with the occurrence of a non-communicable disease.
BASS (Bureau for Labor and Socio-Political Studies), together with "B&A" (Consultations and Analyses), was commissioned by the Federal Office of Public Health to conduct a study in the above-mentioned area.
BASS found the following as part of this study:
- The Swiss population made increased use of the low-threshold information and support services.
- Certain groups of people have been significantly impaired in their well-being and mental health. Risk factors include: Loneliness, social isolation, high workload. People who have been exposed to reconciliation conflicts and financial difficulties are also included.
- Special arrangements for reimbursement of treatment provided by telephone have played an important role in meeting outpatient treatment needs.
The policy brief on strengthening interprofessional collaboration of somatic-psychological interfaces is available. It can also be ordered here with order numbers 316.607 - 316.610. Recommendation 4 states that the FOPH should launch a research project to examine whether moving from the delegation to the prescribing model improves the care situation in child and adolescent mental health. Do vulnerable populations actually gain easier access to psychotherapy as a result of the system change? In addition, the study should examine whether there is an increase in volume.
Working Paper 53 of Health Promotion Switzerland also addresses mental health in one chapter. The whole document provides a set of arguments in the field of prevention and health promotion.
Working Paper 53, Mental Health Chapter.
The 5th Mental Health Monitoring Report addresses the years 2017-2019. It addresses protective and risk factors related to mental health and provides statistical figures on treatment utilization and costs.
The FOPH's "Interprofessionalism in Healthcare" funding program aims to increase efficiency through better collaboration between different professional groups. In addition, the quality of care is to be optimized through improved collaboration.
In this final report, the focus was on interface management in particularly complex treatment situations (care of people with suicidal tendencies, pregnant women with birth-related complications and people in palliative care). SBAP President Mr. Christoph Adrian Schneider participated in the sounding board of the mentioned study.
The National Health Report 2020 reports at regular intervals on the state of health of the Swiss population. Chapter 5 of this year's edition deals with mental health. Based on the available data, a high level of well-being can be observed among children, adolescents and young adults. Little can be said about mental disorders or abnormalities, as the significance varies greatly depending on the age group. There are also no figures for all cantons and no data on children of preschool age.
The FSP (Federation of Swiss Psychologists) commissioned a study from BASS (Bureau for Labor and Social Policy Studies) and B & A (Consultations and Analyses) to calculate the savings potential through the prescription model. The result: about half a billion Swiss francs will be saved by adequate therapy services. Absences from the workplace, inpatient therapy stays and the lack of financing options for psychotherapy by those affected can be reduced by the prescription model.
The FOPH, in collaboration with Health Promotion Switzerland and the GDK, has drawn up a basic report. It is also available in abridged form.
7 billion is spent on mental ailments in the health care system. Mental illnesses are the 3rd most expensive disease and account for 10.6% of total health care costs.
Carola Huber, Simon Wieser (2018). How much does the treatment of each major disease cost?
We are pleased to draw your attention to a recent study by BASS "Volkswirtschaftliche Beratung AG" on behalf of santésuisse on the cost consequences for the OKP of a change from a delegation model to a prescription model for psychological psychotherapy services:
BSS found the following as part of this study:
- The system change will cause OKP costs to rise in the short term, as the number of self-pay patients will fall.
- In the medium term, an increase in volume expansion can be assumed because there is currently an undersupply.
- In the long term, the attractiveness of the profession could increase but cost savings can be expected as the care situation is improved and the risk of chronicity of diseases is reduced.
04.02.2020
Swiss want a comprehensive benefits catalog
According to the survey conducted by the GFS Bern opinion research institute, the population is highly satisfied with the current system. Savings measures in health care are very unpopular. For the high health insurance premiums, the voters want to have many and high-quality services. In the case of psychological complaints or complaints caused by stress, the willingness to pay health insurance premiums even increases considerably and reaches a peak level for the first time since the survey was conducted. At the same time, the willingness to expect payment by the health insurer for the prevention of health damage is also increasing more strongly.
Stress in the workplace is one of the greatest challenges of our working world. The analysis of the Job Stress Index shows that stress in the workplace leads to productivity losses for companies, as well as health and economic consequences.
The survey of key figures is conducted by the Health Promotion Switzerland Foundation in collaboration with the Department of Industrial and Organizational Psychology at the University of Bern and the ZHAW.
The results show that the relationship between resources and stresses has a long-term impact on the health and motivation of employees, which in turn influences company success factors such as productivity and absenteeism.
The study: Job Stress Index 2014 to 2016
January 2018
Reports on the mental health of children and adolescents as well as teachers: The study confirms that there is a need for action with regard to the promotion of the mental health of children and adolescents, respectively teachers.
15.06.2017
We are pleased to draw your attention to a recent study by the "Büro für arbeits- und sozialpolitische Studien BASS" on behalf of the Federal Office of Public Health (BAG) on the care situation of mentally ill people in Switzerland:
BASS Final Report: Care Situation of Persons with Mental Illness in Switzerland
BASS found the following as part of this study:
- In the basic psychiatric-psychotherapeutic care of children and adolescents, it must be assumed that there is a significant underuse.
- In basic psychiatric-psychotherapeutic care for adults, gaps in care were identified with regard to specific regions, types of services and target groups, as well as a need for optimization with regard to the use of resources and networking of professionals.
- Access problems manifest themselves in long waiting periods.
- Certain target groups - those who are difficult to reach, have difficulty adhering to treatment due to illness, and/or have psychosocial problems - cannot be sufficiently supported in the currently most common work setting of the psychiatric individual or small practice with the existing funding modalities. More detailed information on these and other results can be found in the study.
07.03.2017
With the monitoring report, the Swiss health observatory Obsan provides an up-to-date overview of the empirical facts on the mental health of the Swiss population. This is done on the basis of various available data sources, which together are intended to provide as complete a picture as possible of mental health in Switzerland.
The Obsan report provides a wide range of data from mental health status and utilization to the total economic cost of mental illness.
Media coverage of psychological issues
Former SBAP board member and child and adolescent psychotherapist Csilla Kenessey Landös writes about the dark season and how to be well "equipped" to make it to the next spring.
Contribution online.
19.12.2022
SBAP board member Eveline von Arx writes about the particular troubled youth. She discusses the possible preventive effect of parents and gives practical support.
Contribution online.
16.12.2022
The article discusses the funds allocated by the Zurich government council, which are to be made available primarily for children and adolescents with mental health problems. It also deals with the offer of "Home Treatment".
Contribution online.
28.11.2022
The podcast series highlights various topics related to psychotherapy in Germany (choice of therapist, diagnosis, etc.). People who describe their own experiences with psychotherapists and psychiatry have their say. The podcast series is hosted by Pia Rauschenberger. The psychotherapist Thorsten Padberg from Berlin also expresses himself in the podcast.
Podcasts online.
6.07.2022
Will the presence of depression soon be detectable in the blood? Researchers have obtained a hint in this regard: in the blood platelets of patients, the mobility of the protein Gs alpha is tested, which is reduced in depression. If such blood tests were to "detect" depression in the future, this could hopefully also make the stigma of "mental illness" disappear.
Article in the NZZ.
11.04.2022
As part of a doctoral thesis, 2209 children & adolescents (12-18 year olds) in Switzerland were asked about their attitudes towards gay classmates or homosexuality in general. Opinions on formulated stereotypes were formulated in 115 questions; the results are very shocking: gay adolescents are excluded by derogatory language, partly subtly, partly quite openly. They have to experience violence and insults.
Article in the Sunday edition of the Tages-Anzeiger.
27.03.2022
Interview with marriage and family therapist Henri Guttmann on interpersonal interactions with dissenters during and after the Corona pandemic. Helpful thoughts on reconciliatory attitudes.
Article in the Tages-Anzeiger.
09.02.2022
The documentary by François Kohler is dedicated to the approach of restorative justice. A touching work about the victim's point of view of a crime.
02.02.2022
The increased number of suicide attempts by adolescents is addressed in the article. Possible measures to deal with this are explained by a child psychiatrist. However, the explanation provided by the pandemic and the measures taken in connection with the coronavirus fall short in many cases.
Article as pdf.
25.01.2022
The topic "loneliness" is taken up in the video and looked at more closely. Different young people are portrayed, how they deal with this feeling. This is an NZZ format.
7.12.2021