The new northern day clinic for child and adolescent psychiatry in Wiltz is set to welcome its first patients shortly. Its aim is to stabilise young people experiencing psychological crises, prevent inpatient admissions, and finally expand mental health provision in the north of the country.
Small group rooms, therapy areas, school spaces, and quiet rooms are all ready, only the patients are missing for now. Those in charge said that would change within days. Until now, many families from the Oesling region have had to travel long distances for specialised treatment, often all the way to Kirchberg.
The medical director of the North Hospital Centre, Dr Jean-Marc Cloos, explained that access to mental health care for children and adolescents remains a challenge across the country, with the situation in the north having been particularly acute. He noted that, together with the National Service for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (SNPJ), the hospital decided to establish the new facility because there had previously been no equivalent structure in the region. Dr Closs stressed that similar day clinics already exist in the south and in the centre, with the north now catching up.
The concept behind the day clinic is straightforward: young people attend during the day and return home in the evening. This allows them to remain in their familiar surroundings and maintain contact with family and school friends.
Up to 15 adolescents aged between 13 and 18 can be treated at the same time. The day clinic is designed as an intermediate step between traditional outpatient therapy and full inpatient hospitalisation. For many specialists, this represents an important development, particularly as the number of mental health problems among young people has risen significantly in recent years.
Between 2022 and 2024, inpatient admissions for 0 to 17-year-olds in the field of mental health in Luxembourg increased by 36%.
Dr Gerhard Ristow, a child and adolescent psychiatrist who will work part-time at the Wiltz facility, said the nature of cases has shifted. He observed a noticeable rise in diagnoses such as depression, anxiety disorders, and somatoform disorders, adding that school avoidance has become a growing concern.
Dr Ristow clarified that severe classical psychiatric conditions, such as schizophrenic episodes, have not necessarily become more frequent. However, anxiety disorders, depression, and psychosomatic complaints are now being diagnosed far more often, he said.
At the same time, Luxembourg’s population has grown considerably in recent years. According to Dr Ristow, who also heads the child and adolescent psychiatry department in Kirchberg, this demographic growth naturally leads to more cases and greater pressure on existing services.
The day clinic in Wiltz relies on a broad, multidisciplinary approach. Psychiatrists, psychologists, educators, and specialised nurses work alongside sports, music, and occupational therapists.
The daily programme follows a structured routine: a shared breakfast, individual and group therapy sessions, physical activities, and an in-house school structure to ensure continuity in education. The goal is not only stabilisation, but also reintegration into everyday life.
Minister of Health and Social Security Martine Deprez described the project in Wiltz as part of a wider national strategy on mental health. She emphasised that mental wellbeing is fundamental, pointing out that poor mental health affects physical health, and vice versa. She stressed that the new facility represents a concrete step in the right direction.
The government aims to expand services regionally and reduce waiting times. The Wiltz facility is intended as an initial response to needs in the north, although experts stress that similar day facilities may also be required in other regions, such as the east and west, in the future.
Although the building is still quiet, expectations are high. For many families in the north, the new day clinic offers a fresh perspective: shorter journeys, quicker access to help, and care adapted to young people’s daily lives. The first patients are expected to be admitted on 2 March.
