Northern Jutland launches “Best for Us” initiative to involve families in psychiatric treatment

When children or young adults enter psychiatric treatment today, their parents often play a minimal role in the conversation. This concern has prompted the child and adolescent psychiatry department in Northern Jutland to launch the “Best for Us” initiative. This project aims to engage the entire family throughout the treatment process, rather than merely keeping them informed.

Several young individuals and their families have participated in workshops to share their experiences with psychiatric care. One participant, 22-year-old Silas Vetner, along with his father, Henrik Vinstrup, has faced numerous challenges during their seven-year journey in the mental health system. Henrik emphasizes the need for genuine parental involvement, expressing frustration over being sidelined. He highlights the crucial role parents play, stating, “It is not helpful to leave a mentally ill young person with someone who does not truly know them.”

Silas, diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, acknowledges the toll that the treatment process has taken on both himself and his family. He describes feeling like a pawn in the system, where a lack of collaboration between him, his family, and the healthcare providers has made recovery difficult.

In response, the psychiatric department has received a landmark funding grant from Novo Nordisk Foundation and the Obel Family Foundation aimed at improving care for children and adolescents facing mental health challenges. Henrik notes the need for effective intervention, as the emotional burden of a sick child is immense. Silas echoes the sentiment, stressing how crucial family support is in navigating the complexities of mental health care. The “Best for Us” project will span the next five years, with hopes of enhancing support for families in Northern Jutland.