Slovenia, with an area of 20 000 km2 and a population of 2 million, is one of the smallest members of the European Union. It gained its independence from Yugoslavia in 1991. The country has a gross domestic product (GDP) of US$27 300 per capita. (Largely because of its historical links with Western Europe, Slovenia has a higher GPD compared with other countries in transition in Central Europe.) The health budget represents 8.4% of GDP. Slovenia has a low birth rate and an ageing population. It is divided into 210 municipalities; however, the reorganisation of government into several separate regions with more administrative and economic autonomy is in progress. The prevalence of mental illness is comparable to that in other European countries, although there are high levels of alcoholism and suicide.

Mental health policy and legislation

Slovenia is a democratic country with a parliamentary form of government. The government must generally endorse all healthcare reforms before they are implemented. The Law of Healthcare and Health Insurance presents the basis for compulsory and voluntary health insurance and also allows for the privatisation of healthcare. The Health Insurance Institute of Slovenia is a public non-profit institution, which is overseen by the state and is bound by the Law on Compulsory Health Insurance. Ministries, government agencies and offices have an administrative and regulatory function and are also responsible for the development of health policy, preventive programmes and health promotion. The state is also the owner and director of public health institutions, such as hospitals and clinics.

Currently the National Programme for Mental Health is in the process of being passed in parliament, as is the new Law on Mental Health. Until now, the provisions of the Non-contentious Procedure Act from 1999 have been used, but these are not in accordance with the constitution. The new Law on Mental Health establishes a network of implementers of mental health programmes and services, defines the rights of people in the network (including the right to a representative or lawyer), establishes the conditions and manner of the appointment of representatives, coordinators of supervisory proceedings and coordinators of services, and regulates the procedure for voluntary or involuntary admission to a psychiatric hospital or social welfare institution. It also contains an innovation, the supervision of patients with psychiatric disturbances in their local community.