Strengthening mental health care

According to the political agreement, ‘Retfærdig retning for Danmark’ (A Fair Direction for Denmark) from 2019, the Danish Government declared its intentions to implement a 10-year action plan for mental health with political goals for, among other things, reducing the number of re-admissions, reducing waiting times and increasing the average life expectancy for people with mental disorders.

As part of the agreement on the Finance and Appropriation Act for 2020, it was decided to initiate the work on a 10-year action plan for mental health aimed at setting long-term goals for improving mental health and social care services for people with mental disorders.

At the same time, it was decided to allocate DKK 600 million annually from 2020 and onwards to improve mental health care in Denmark.

The purpose of this publication is to provide recommendations for an ambitious, long-term action plan for improving mental health in the general population and for strengthening mental health and social care services across several public sectors for people with mental disorders. Thus, the aim is to form the basis for the Government’s proposal for a 10-year action plan.

Strengthening mental health care - Recommendations for a 10-year action plan in Denmark – short version

See Danish version: Fagligt oplæg til en 10-årsplan

Contents

23 pages

• 1. Background 
  • 1.1. Preparation of the publication
• 2. Challenges and opportunities
  • 2.1. A public health challenge
  • 2.2. Previous initiatives and actions plans have not ensured the necessary improvement
  • 2.3. Current challenges 
  • 2.4. An action plan with ambitious goals 
  • 2.5. Prerequisites for successful improvement
  • 2.6. Gradual improvement over a 10-year period 
• 3. Overall recommendations
  • 3.1. Equity and anti-stigmatisation
  • 3.2. Knowledge, development and strong professional environments 
  • 3.3. Mental health promotion 
  • 3.4. Children and young people 
  • 3.5. Early interventions for adults 
  • 3.6. Assessment and treatment
  • 3.7. Forensic psychiatry
  • 3.8. Social care services
  • 3.9. Coordination and cooperation