SNS users wait six months for first appointment with psychologist

Users of the National Health Service in Portugal face waits of approximately six months to get a first psychology appointment. This situation reveals the difficulties in accessing mental health care in the Portuguese public system. The government announced a plan to reinforce the teams of psychologists in health centers across the country. It is planned that more than 300 psychologists will be hired for primary health care by the end of the year, in an attempt to reduce the long waiting lists and improve users' access to these specialized services.