University Psychiatric Services Bern

What University Psychiatric Services Bern does

Universitäre Psychiatrische Dienste Bern (UPD) AG is the designated cantonal competence center for psychiatry and psychotherapy for the Canton of Bern, Switzerland, operating as a university hospital under Swiss mandatory health insurance (KVG/LAMal). UPD delivers the complete psychiatric care continuum across four university clinics — Child and Youth Psychiatry (ages 0–17), Adult Psychiatry (18–65), Geriatric Psychiatry (65+), and Forensic Psychiatry — together with the Zentrum Psychiatrische Rehabilitation, covering early detection, outpatient care, day-clinic programs, inpatient treatment, crisis intervention, addiction services, forensic evaluation, and rehabilitation/reintegration. Its revenue is generated primarily through cantonal funding and statutory health insurance reimbursements, supplemented by a private/semi-private inpatient ward (Privatstation König) and disability-insurance-funded rehabilitation and supported housing (WohnAutonom, WohnPassage Weidli, SoWohnen host families). The customer base is geographically concentrated in Canton Bern and accessed via physician referrals, institutional transfers from Inselspital, and a 24/7 triage service; no commercial customer concentration exists.

The underlying technology stack is clinical rather than digital: evidence-based psychotherapeutic modalities (CBT, CBASP, DBT, EFT, IRRT, EMDR), advanced brain stimulation (TMS, tDCS, ECT, esketamine, ketamine, light therapy, deep brain stimulation), and proprietary programs developed in-house such as ASSIP (Attempted Suicide Short Intervention Program) and FETZ Bern (early psychosis detection, co-operated with Soteria Bern). UPD operates 14+ physical sites across Bern city and surrounding municipalities (Biel/Bienne, Burgdorf, Spiez, Ostermundigen, Moosseedorf, Kehrsatz, Köniz), supported by a clinical Psychology Service, a Consultation-Liaison Service embedded in Inselspital, and an Interdisciplinary Memory Clinic co-located with neurology and geriatrics. The organization is in active transformation: in March 2026 UPD and PZM announced a merger to form UPZ, and in June 2026 ZPR and AWA were consolidated into wita, while a new pediatric day clinic opened in Burgdorf in May 2026.

Name

University Psychiatric Services Bern

Legal name

Universitäre Psychiatrische Dienste Bern (UPD) AG

Website

https://upd.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Universitäre Psychiatrische Dienste Bern (UPD) is the cantonal university psychiatric hospital for Canton Bern, Switzerland, delivering the full psychiatric care continuum — from early detection and emergency services through outpatient, day-clinic, and inpatient treatment to rehabilitation and supported living — across four university clinics and 14+ locations for residents of all ages.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Psychiatric Hospital Services

NAICS

Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospitals (6222), Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (621420), Residential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities (623220)

SIC

Services-Hospitals (8060), Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093)

akta.pro primary industry

Inpatient Psychiatric Hospitals (HLAFAHAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Outpatient Mental Health & Counseling Clinics (HLAFABAC), Residential Mental Health Treatment Centers (HLAFACAC), Behavioral Health Skilled Home Health (Psychiatric Nursing) (HSABACAM)

Keywords

• Psychiatric hospital services
• Mental health treatment
• Psychotherapy services
• Forensic psychiatry
• Psychiatric rehabilitation

Headquarters

HQ city

Bern

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices14 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Cantonal Healthcare Services: As the cantonal competence center for psychiatry in the Canton of Bern, UPD receives cantonal funding and operates within Switzerland's mandatory health insurance system. Services are covered by basic health insurance (Grundversicherung) for residents.
2. Private/Additional Insurance Services: Privatstation König provides services for patients with private or semi-private insurance coverage, offering enhanced accommodation and services beyond standard care.
3. Rehabilitation Services: Zentrum Psychiatrische Rehabilitation (ZPR) provides rehabilitation services funded through disability insurance (IV), supplementary benefits (EL), social services, or KESB.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

UPD operates a comprehensive psychiatric care system providing the full continuum of mental health services for the Canton of Bern, including outpatient clinics, day hospitals, inpatient care, crisis intervention, forensic psychiatry, and rehabilitation. The institution consists of four university clinics (Children/Adolescents, Adults, Geriatrics, Forensic Psychiatry) plus a Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation, delivering evidence-based treatments such as CBT, DBT, EMDR, TMS, tDCS, EKT, and ASSIP suicide prevention programs.

Product overview

University Psychiatric Services Bern (UPD) operates as a comprehensive psychiatric care system providing the complete psychiatric care continuum from early intervention through rehabilitation. The organization comprises four university clinics and the Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation, organized around six core service divisions: Child and Youth Psychiatry (ages 0-17), Adult Psychiatry (ages 18-65), Geriatric Psychiatry (65+), Forensic Psychiatry, Psychiatric Rehabilitation, and Recovery/Peer Involvement. Key specialized programs include FETZ Bern (early psychosis detection), the Interdisciplinary Memory Clinic IDMC, SoWohnen (host family placement), WohnAutonom (supported independent living), and the WohnPassage Weidli transitional housing facility. Services range from 24/7 emergency care and crisis intervention through outpatient clinics, day hospitals, and inpatient units, including the private Privatstation König. The organization also provides extensive specialized outpatient clinics covering addiction, ADHD, anxiety disorders, autism, brain stimulation therapies, and suicide prevention (ASSIP). UPD serves as the psychiatric competence center for the Canton of Bern with an extended mandate in specialized psychiatric care, teaching, and research.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SoWohnen: Psychiatric family care service offering supervised living in host families for people with mental illness
• FETZ Bern
• ASSIP
• Interdisziplinäre Memory Clinic (IDMC)

Products and services

• Child and Youth Psychiatry (Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie) Comprehensive psychiatric services for children and adolescents (0-17 years) including inpatient, outpatient, and day clinic care, emergency services, and specialized centers such as the Bern Parent-Child Center (BEK) and FETZ Bern early intervention.
• Adult Psychiatry (Erwachsenenpsychiatrie) Psychiatric services for adults aged 18-65 covering the full care continuum from outpatient clinics and day treatment to inpatient care, including crisis intervention, addiction services, specialized outpatient clinics, brain stimulation therapies, and forensic psychiatric services.
• Geriatric Psychiatry (Alterspsychiatrie 65+) Specialized psychiatric services for adults aged 65 and older, including outpatient, day-treatment, and inpatient care, mobile psychiatric services (home visits), and the Interdisciplinary Memory Clinic (IDMC) in collaboration with Inselspital.
• Psychiatric Rehabilitation (Zentrum Psychiatrische Rehabilitation) Rehabilitation services including WohnAutonom (supported independent living), WohnPassage Weidli (transitional housing with 22 rooms), Job Coach Placement, and Werkstätten Bern workshops to support reintegration into work and community life.
• Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology (Forensische Psychiatrie und Psychologie) Forensic psychiatric services for patients in custody or under court-ordered measures, including intensive psychiatric care (Station Etoine), forensic outpatient clinic, day clinic at Regional Prison Burgdorf, consultation-liaison, and expert assessment services for civil and criminal law.
• Emergency Center for Child and Youth Psychiatry (Notfallzentrum NZKJP) 24/7 psychiatric emergency services for children and adolescents aged 0-17 in crisis situations involving self-harm or harm to others, offering outpatient emergency consultations and short-term inpatient stays.
• FETZ Bern (Early Detection and Therapy Center for Mental Crises) Early detection and therapy center for mental health crises, specializing in psychosis risk assessment and early intervention for individuals aged 8-40, operated in cooperation with Soteria Bern.
• Interdisciplinary Memory Clinic (IDMC) Outpatient clinic specializing in diagnosis and treatment of memory disorders and cognitive deficits through collaboration between neurology, neuropsychology, neuroradiology, geriatrics, and psychiatry at Inselspital.
• SoWohnen (Psychiatric Family Care) Unlimited-duration supported living program placing patients in host families throughout the Canton of Bern, with mobile team providing psychosocial support and psychiatric care.
• Privatstation König (Private Inpatient Unit) Private inpatient unit treating patients with depression, burnout, anxiety disorders, OCD, PTSD, sleep disorders, and stable psychoses, offering interdisciplinary treatment including psychotherapy, art therapy, music therapy, yoga, and animal-assisted therapy for private and semi-private insurance patients.
• Recovery College Bern Peer involvement and recovery-oriented services supporting individuals with mental illness in their recovery journey through shared experiences and mutual support.
• Consultation-Liaison Service (Konsiliar- und Liaisondienst) Psychiatric consultation and liaison services for Inselspital clinics addressing psychiatric questions in medically ill patients and providing support for somatic treatment of psychiatric patients.
• Psychiatric Day Clinics (Psychiatrische Tageskliniken) Day hospital services including acute day clinic (ATK), psychotherapy day clinic (PTK), geriatric day clinics, and the newly opened Burgdorf day clinic for children and youth, providing structured treatment while patients maintain home residence.
• Crisis Intervention Center (Kriseninterventionszentrum KIZ) Crisis intervention center providing immediate psychiatric support and stabilization for acute mental health emergencies at the Murtenstrasse location.
• Specialized Outpatient Clinics (Spezialsprechstunden) Specialized psychiatric outpatient clinics covering addiction disorders, ADHD, anxiety and OCD, autism in adults, psychosis, insomnia/hypersomnia, gender issues, transcultural psychiatry, affective disorders, brain stimulation procedures, and suicide attempt follow-up (ASSIP).
• ASSIP (Attempted Suicide Short Intervention Program) Specialized short-term therapy program developed by UPD researchers for patients after suicide attempts. Includes narrative interviews, personalized warning signal identification, preventive behavioral measures, long-term goals, emergency cards, and 2-year follow-up with periodic written contact.
• Clinical Psychology Service (Klinisch Psychologischer Dienst) Psychological and psychotherapeutic services including diagnostics, individual and group psychotherapy, and specialized treatments such as ASSIP, CBASP, EFT, and IRRT trauma therapy.
• Mobile Geriatric Psychiatry (Mobile Alterspsychiatrie) Home-based psychiatric diagnosis, counseling, and treatment services for elderly patients aged 65+ who cannot access outpatient, day-treatment, or inpatient facilities, provided at patients' residences including nursing homes.
• Tagesstätten Bern (Day Centers Bern) and WohnAutonom Supported Living Day centers and supported living services providing structured daytime activities, vocational support, and independent living assistance for adults with severe mental illness.
• WohnPassage Weidli (Transitional Housing) Supervised transitional housing facility with 22 furnished single rooms and integrated employment opportunities in Kehrsatz, supporting patients transitioning to independent living.
• Therapiezentrum für Essstörungen TZE (Therapy Center for Eating Disorders) Specialized therapy center for eating disorders located in Moosseedorf, providing treatment for patients with anorexia, bulimia, and other eating disorders.

Quantifiable outcome

• Full psychiatric care continuum from early detection to rehabilitation
• +1 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Soteria BerncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSoteria Bern collaborates with UPD's University Clinic for Children and Adolescent Psychiatry and the University Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy to operate FETZ Bern (Früherkennungs- und Therapiezentrum für psychische Krisen), focusing on early detection and treatment of psychosis and mental crises. Joint clinical leadership and scientific direction integrate Soteria's specialized crisis intervention approach with UPD's academic psychiatric expertise.
• Inselspital (University Hospital Bern)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple collaborative arrangements: (1) Memory Clinic (IDMC) jointly operated with University Clinic for Neurology and Geriatric University Clinic; (2) Custody psychiatric station located at Inselspital; (3) ECT (electroconvulsive therapy) provided in collaboration with Inselspital anesthesia; (4) Consultation-liaison psychiatric services for all Inselspital clinics; (5) Joint research activities through University of Bern affiliation.
• University of Bern (Universität Bern)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership providing university hospital status. Four university clinic directors hold professorships at University of Bern (Prof. Dr. med. Michael Kaess - Children/Adolescents; Prof. Dr. med. Kristina Adorjan - Adults; Prof. Dr. med. Stefan Klöppel - Geriatrics; Prof. Dr. med. Johannes Kirchebner - Forensic Psychiatry). Joint research programs, medical education, and continuous professional training.
• Canton of BerncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCantonal government mandate designating UPD as the competence center for psychiatry and psychotherapy for Canton Bern. Receives cantonal funding and operates within cantonal healthcare planning. Provides psychiatric services as part of cantonal healthcare infrastructure.
• Psychiatrie Zentrum Marsberg (PZM)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUPD and PZM announced merger in March 2026 to form UPZ (Universitäres Psychiatrie Zentrum). This strategic combination creates a larger psychiatric center. The merger is expected to strengthen psychiatric care provision and create synergies in research and clinical services.
• Swiss Health Insurance Providers (Krankenkassen)coreOthersServices covered under Swiss mandatory health insurance (KVG/LAMal). UPD operates as an accredited healthcare provider recognized by Swiss health insurers for basic psychiatric care reimbursement.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève (HUG) - Psychiatrie: University psychiatric services within Geneva University Hospitals with similar teaching hospital status and full psychiatric service spectrum across age groups, providing a French-Swiss peer for clinical model and research comparisons.
• Psychiatrische Universitätsklinik Zürich (PUK): University psychiatric hospital for Canton Zürich with comparable research-driven care model, full inpatient/outpatient continuum, and academic affiliation (University of Zürich). Closest functional peer operating in an adjacent Swiss canton with similar service breadth and clinical research integration.
• Universitäre Psychiatrische Kliniken Basel (UPK): University psychiatric hospital for the Basel region with similar four-clinic structure, university affiliation (University of Basel), and full psychiatric care continuum including child/adolescent, adult, geriatric, and forensic divisions.
• Integrierte Psychiatrie Winterthur (ipw): Integrated psychiatric services provider for the Winterthur region of Canton Zürich with comparable inpatient, outpatient, day-clinic, and rehabilitation service offerings for all age groups.
• Psychiatrie Zentrum Marsberg / PZM (now UPZ partner): Cantonal-affiliated psychiatric provider that announced merger with UPD in 2026 to form UPZ; provides overlapping adult and forensic psychiatric services in Canton Bern and is the most operationally comparable peer by service mix and geography.
• Psychiatrische Dienste Aargau (PDAG): Cantonal psychiatric services provider for Canton Aargau offering full care continuum across age groups with university teaching affiliation, structurally analogous to UPD's cantonal mandate model.
• CHUV - Service de Psychiatrie: University psychiatric department of the Lausanne University Hospital serving Canton Vaud with academic affiliation (University of Lausanne); comparable as Swiss university psychiatry peer for benchmarking research output and full-care continuum.

Broad incumbents

• Privatklinik Meiringen: Established private psychiatric hospital focused on depression, anxiety, and trauma treatment; competes in the privately insured and self-pay segment where UPD's Privatstation König operates, with overlapping specialty therapies.
• Clienia Littenheid: Largest private psychiatric provider group in Switzerland operating multiple clinics across cantons; competes with UPD particularly for privately insured patients and offers overlapping general adult and geriatric psychiatric services.

Others

• Soteria Bern: Specialized crisis-intervention partner collaborating with UPD on FETZ Bern; provides home-based and supported-living alternatives to inpatient psychiatric care, representing an adjacent service model in the same geographic and clinical space.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/upd-bern

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about University Psychiatric Services Bern