Denmark to expand professional support for struggling youth

Denmark’s health minister has called for faster and broader support for children and young people facing mental health struggles, as new figures show growing wait times for psychiatric care.

Health and Church Minister Ida Auken (Social Democrats) described the situation as “sad,” noting that many young people and their families are left waiting for treatment. She announced plans to develop an emergency strategy to reduce waitlists and assist more children, according to a report by Danish broadcaster DR.

A key part of the effort involves expanding easily accessible municipal services for youth in distress, though it remains unclear whether these measures have eased pressure on psychiatric services. The challenge, Auken said, is that demand continues to rise.

Under a 2022 10-year psychiatric plan, all municipalities were required to offer low-threshold support for children and adolescents aged 6 to 17 by 2026. The goal is to shorten the time between the onset of mental health issues and treatment.

Auken is also open to involving additional professional groups, such as psychologists, physiotherapists, and occupational therapists, in the support system. Marianne Skjold, director of the Psykiatrifonden foundation, welcomed the idea but stressed that any expansion must be integrated under medical leadership to avoid fragmentation.

Skjold added that while she was not surprised by the increasing wait times, she was pleased the government was prioritizing urgent action. She noted that years of neglect in psychiatric care cannot be reversed overnight.