Death drive in Berlin: “The incident must be a reminder for us”

By Stephen Peter

According to prosecutors, the gunman probably suffers from paranoid schizophrenia. The most common symptoms of this incurable disease: paranoia, hearing voices, anger.

Compulsory admission to a psychiatric clinic is regulated by a state law. She will before court applied for, in most cases the district health department is involved.

If the patient is regularly discharged from the clinic, the authorities are not informed. Mittes medical officer Lukas Murajda emphasizes: “However, the release only takes place if the danger to yourself and/or others is no longer acute.”

A patient can refuse subsequent care! “As soon as coercive measures have been lifted, agreements will apply on a voluntary basis,” says Christian Berg from the Neukölln district office.

Alexander Freier-Winterwerb (35, SPD), Health Councilor von Treptow-Köpenick, confirms: “Outpatient care is important so that the patient does not fall into a hole after the hospital stay. But there is no obligation – which can be a problem.”

However: The capacities for care in Berlin are tight. At a conference in May, providers of psychosocial care complained that they were bursting at the seams. They are underfunded and understaffed.

As in the social psychiatric service in Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg: “Individual positions are currently vacant,” according to the district office for the BZ

The Senate is providing 19.5 million euros for the Psychiatry Development Program. “The sum would have to be increased by at least 1.5 million,” says health expert Florian Kluckert (46, FDP). “In addition, it must be fully financed so that the employees are paid according to collective bargaining agreements so that good workers can be found.”

Kluckert (who is a psychologist himself) warns: “The incident must be a reminder that we have to take a closer look to see if and where the system has gaps!”