Denmark to shift adult psychiatrists to child services amid crisis in youth mental health

The Danish government will temporarily redeploy adult psychiatrists to treat older children in an emergency plan to cut soaring wait times in child and adolescent mental health services, a move critics call unsustainable.

Health Minister Ida Auken (Social Democrats) confirmed the measure as part of a broader package to address what she described as an “acute task,” with families facing delays of over 165 days for assessments—more than five times the legal 30-day limit. “When children and families are suffering, everything can stall—school, work—so this is urgent,” Auken told public broadcaster DR.

The plan also includes voluntary overtime agreements, contracts with private-practice psychiatrists, incentives to retain retired specialists, and expanded use of psychologists and school counselors. But Jane Alrø, secretary general of the advocacy group Bedre Psykiatri (Better Psychiatry), warned that diverting adult psychiatrists “just shifts problems around.”

“Adult psychiatry is already severely strained,” Alrø said. “Removing their key resource—psychiatrists—only makes the system more fragile. This isn’t a sustainable solution.” She urged structural reforms and longer-term workforce planning, including greater involvement of occupational therapists, physiotherapists, and educators.

Christian Legind, chair of the Danish Psychiatric Association, acknowledged the risks to adult services but backed the government’s urgency. “We all agree more training is needed, but we can’t wait years while children grow up on waiting lists,” he said. Current data shows only 13% of cases met the 30-day assessment deadline in late 2025, with average waits exceeding 165 days.

Auken will meet with regional health authorities to finalize resource allocation, emphasizing that the crisis demands immediate action despite the trade-offs.