More than 5,000 young people in Denmark are waiting for anxiety and depression care, despite a new law guaranteeing treatment within 30 days. The guarantee came into force on 1 October 2026, but regional healthcare authorities have acknowledged that they cannot yet meet the deadline for everyone.
The backlog was confirmed on 8 October by Danish Regions (Danske Regioner), the organisation representing Denmark’s regional authorities, which recently took responsibility for providing free psychological treatment to young adults.
Mads Duedahl, chair of Danish Regions, acknowledged the difficulty of implementing the new guarantee immediately.
We will not be able to meet the new treatment guarantee for everyone from day one, but we will work to reduce the waiting list as quickly as possible.
A new guarantee for anxiety and depression care
The new rules apply to young people aged 18 to 24 with mild to moderate anxiety or depression who have been referred for treatment by their general practitioner.
The reform follows legislation adopted by the Danish parliament (Folketinget) in December 2025, as part of the country’s broader 10-year mental health plan.
Under the new treatment system, regional authorities are responsible for assessing each patient’s needs and arranging appropriate care. Previously, patients had to find an available psychologist themselves.
Treatment can include individual psychological consultations, group therapy or online programmes, depending on the patient’s needs. The legal framework also allows patients to receive free treatment from private providers contracted by the regions when the public service cannot meet the 30-day deadline, subject to specific conditions.
The challenge of reducing waiting times
The regions are now facing the task of handling new referrals while reducing an existing waiting list of more than 5,000 patients.
According to figures reported by Ritzau, up to 20,000 young people across Denmark are expected to be referred for treatment each year.
The announcement has drawn criticism from mental health organisations. Jane Alrø Sørensen, secretary-general of Bedre Psykiatri, expressed disappointment that the authorities had not sufficiently accounted for the existing backlog when preparing the new system, despite having more than a year to organise the transition.
Duedahl has declined to estimate when the regions will be able to meet the treatment deadline for every eligible patient.
The new system represents a change in how Denmark provides psychological care to young adults, but its immediate effectiveness will depend on how quickly the regions can reduce waiting times and make the 30-day guarantee a reality.
