The Danish government is taking steps to address rising depression and anxiety among young people by proposing a new legal guarantee that ensures rapid access to treatment. Under the plan, anyone under 18 would have the right to begin therapy within 30 days. If public services cannot meet the deadline, patients would be offered free care from private providers.
Beginning next summer, the 30-day treatment guarantee would also apply to 18- to 24-year-olds with mild to moderate depression or anxiety. If the regional health system cannot provide timely care, these young adults would likewise be entitled to free treatment from approved providers.
“We are very pleased to see this focus on psychiatry, which faces many challenges. It is vital that we improve both quality and capacity,” said Morten Freil, CEO of the umbrella organisation Danish Patients, in an interview with Euractiv.
Legislative Framework
The bill is expected to be adopted by the Danish parliament on 19 December. It forms part of a new 10-year national psychiatry strategy, with the rapid-treatment guarantee scheduled to take effect on 1 July 2026.
Freil stressed the importance of ensuring timely care. “This group often faces waiting times of several months, and there are major geographical differences across Denmark,” he said.
Over the past 15 years, the number of young people in Denmark’s child and adolescent mental health services has doubled. About 15% of children and adolescents are diagnosed with a mental disorder before turning 18. Freil noted that pressures linked to social media and other factors contribute to worsening mental health, warning that long waits can intensify symptoms.
“We see growing demand, but psychiatric capacity has not kept up. Young people with mild symptoms risk progressing to more serious conditions,” he said.
Funding and Digital Expansion
If the bill passes, the government will allocate DKK 93 million (€12 million) in 2026, DKK 124 million (€16 million) in 2027, DKK 93 million (€12 million) in 2028, and DKK 62 million (€8 million) annually from 2029. The funding aims to expand the workforce of psychologists, therapists, and psychiatrists and support new digital treatment tools designed for young people.
Freil said digital solutions could “increase capacity and allow more people to receive treatment,” but cautioned that quality must be safeguarded. He called for national standards and targets for online psychiatric care, along with routine monitoring of digital treatment quality.
The bill would also shift responsibility for treating children and adolescents away from private psychologists who currently provide subsidised therapy and transfer it to regional health authorities.
In addition, psychiatric care will be placed on equal footing with somatic health care and will be organisationally integrated with it in 2027.
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