What is the Trieste Model?
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​The Trieste model is a system of mental health recovery, focused on the immediate and long-term needs of each individual.
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The model was first developed in the city of Trieste, in North-Eastern Italy, almost 50 years ago. It is lauded by the World Health Organisation as a “centre of excellence for mental health recovery,” and is probably the best place in the world to have any kind of mental health problem.
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Unlike traditional psychiatric systems, it is NOT focused on psychiatric diagnoses, labels, medications or the stabilisation of symptoms, but instead focuses on personal agency, long-term support and genuine recovery.
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The core of the model is the community mental health hub - like the Joshi Hubs we aim to establish in Inverness and in other cities in Scotland – which operate a 24/7, walk-in policy, and provide single-point access to mental health help and services in an informal, safe and “radically hospitable” space.
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These hubs operate via a hub-spoke-model that interlinks to community assets for the benefit of a person’s recovery, helping them to live independent, fulfilling lives. The hub is also the place where long-term recovery plans are agreed upon by the individual and set in motion.
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These are places where individuals are treated with compassion and dignity, and given advice, treatment and counselling. The Long-term, personalized recovery plans is one of the most important treatment tools of the Trieste model – and focuses on immediate needs and on an individual’s life goals, personal aspirations and their long-term recovery – with all the support needed to get them there.
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This is a system of social psychiatry that works – at the psychiatric-treatment level, financial level (it’s far less expensive than any other mental health service) and in its recovery outcomes. It shouldn’t be a surprise that Trieste has the best rates of mental illness recovery in the world.
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The raw statistics on successful treatment outcomes in Trieste provide the promise of what can be accomplished in Scotland.
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Massively reduced rates of suicide
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Fewer hospital readmissions
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Far fewer suffering from a condition deterioration of their condition
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Reduction in drug and alcohol addiction
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Far fewer court orders for compulsory treatment
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All of this can be accomplished by fostering a more holistic approach to health and mental health care and support, one which recognizes the social determinants and modern-world challenges that are a large part of what is mental ill health, and the need for community support and engagement as a matter of healing.
Over the past few decades the Trieste model has been taken up in more than 30 countries, most recently Poland and the Czech Republic.
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Government pilot programmes have also been set up under six NHS trusts in England. Why not Scotland?