Denmark rolls out nationwide psychiatric emergency service

People across Denmark can now access psychiatric expertise through the country’s existing emergency health service, DR reports. The service is available in all five regions from Monday.

There is no single new telephone number for the entire country. The number to call depends on the region where the person is located.

One entry point for physical and mental emergencies

The aim is to make it as simple to get urgent help for mental illness as for physical illness.

When someone calls, healthcare staff assess the situation. If psychiatric assistance is needed, staff with psychiatric experience can join the call. They may provide counselling, advice or help the caller reach a psychiatric emergency department or another relevant service.

The service is available to children, young people and adults who need urgent help because of mental illness. Relatives can also call.

It is staffed, among others, by nurses and social and healthcare assistants with experience in psychiatry.

When to call

A mental health crisis does not necessarily mean that someone’s life is in immediate danger. It could involve serious thoughts of self-harm, severe mental agitation or hearing voices that make it impossible to cope with the situation.

People do not need to know themselves what kind of help they need. The psychiatric emergency service can assess the situation and advise them on what to do next.

Anyone facing immediate danger to life should continue to call 112.

Service already operating in three regions

Psychiatric assistance through the emergency health service was already available in the Central Denmark, North Denmark and Southern Denmark regions. There, psychiatric staff had been connected to services including 112 and the out-of-hours medical service.

The Capital Region and Zealand Region have now joined the scheme. In the Capital Region, the psychiatric function is connected to the 1813 medical helpline. In Zealand Region, residents can call 1818.