Danish child psychiatry clinic cuts assessment time from 165 days to 14

A child and adolescent psychiatry clinic in Roskilde, Denmark, has reduced assessment wait times from the national average of 165 days to just 14 days as part of a trial, reports DR. Ten-year-old Sofia Maria Bagger Gallacher was among the first to benefit from the accelerated process.

The clinic temporarily dedicated two weeks solely to conducting assessments in an effort to reduce delays. For families like Sofia’s, the shorter wait time has made a significant difference—her mother has had to work from home to care for her due to Sofia’s distress and frequent school absences.

The initiative aims to address long-standing concerns over extended waiting periods in Denmark’s child and adolescent mental health services.