Intensive Support for Young Patients
The Hospital Clínic de Barcelona has reinforced its Day Hospital service for children and adolescents experiencing severe mental health decompensation. The facility, part of the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology Section, offers an intensive therapeutic resource designed to help young patients return to their normal lives after a crisis. According to Dr Astrid Morer, head of the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Section, the programme allows patients to stay for up to six months. It aims to prevent full hospitalisation and support recovery in a structured environment.
Age-Specific and Specialised Programmes
The Day Hospital serves two age groups: children aged 6 to 12, for whom it acts as a reference centre in Barcelona, and adolescents aged 12 to 18. It runs general programmes for severe emotional problems, as well as specific ones for autism spectrum disorders and eating disorders. Each programme includes a dedicated hospital classroom teacher to maintain educational continuity.
"It is common for more than 50% of boys and girls to have felt disconnected from school, experienced academic failure, or lost schooling for a long time.", Dr Astrid Morer, Head of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Section
Educational Integration as Therapy
A key feature of the programme is the integration of educational professionals into the clinical team. Mariló Noró, an educational counsellor and teacher at the Day Hospital, emphasises that maintaining the school connection is a therapeutic factor. "My role is strategic because it brings an educational perspective into a hospital setting," she says. The classroom helps patients regain routines, rebuild identity beyond illness, and improve concentration and study habits. Teachers participate in clinical follow-up meetings and coordinate with students’ original schools, including tutors, management teams, and Psychopedagogical Assessment and Guidance Teams (EAP), to prepare for reintegration.
Multidisciplinary Approach to Recovery
The multidisciplinary team includes psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, mental health nurses, educators, social workers, and education professionals. Elías Guillén, from mental health nursing, highlights the importance of creating safe environments for treatment. Progress in treatment is often visible in the classroom, with improvements in participation and daily functioning. The educational dimension is considered indispensable for helping young people achieve the highest possible level of functioning across all areas of life. The Day Hospital is part of the Clínic’s Inpatient Unit and serves minors referred from the Eixample CSMIJ (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Centre) and other parts of Barcelona. It also collaborates with specialist departments including Dietetics-Nutrition, Cardiology, and Endocrinology, particularly in eating disorder cases.
Sources: Diari Catalunya, clinicbarcelona.org, diaricatalunya.cat.
