From deinstitutionalization to citizen psychiatry - the Geesthacht model

Given the rising prevalences of psychologically ascribed crises, we need new forms of care that attach to and extend the processes of deinstitutionalization of the 1970ies in various countries around the globe. This article intends to re-activate trust in these potentials by delineating ways of moving forwards towards a 'citizen psychiatry' support that in part or substantially is organized and or implemented by citizens as well as civil initiatives and institutions, both on a volunteer or paid basis. Possible components for such citizen psychiatry are outlined, drawing on various developments in the psychiatric hospital department in Geesthacht/Germany and the surrounding care sector. After presenting these developments, thereby focusing on the presentation of agile teams, real estate therapy, hybrid forms of support for living and working, these components will be discussed and then placed in an ecological frame of reference that may be perceived as its paradigmatic foundation.