Following our successful Poland Country Profile launch in June 2025, we are pleased to release the second instalment in the Rethinking Schizophrenia Country Profiles series: This time for Denmark.
On 8 December 2025, the Danish Brain Council and the European Brain Council convened a webinar titled “A Comprehensive, High-Quality Approach to the Treatment of Schizophrenia in Adolescents and Young Adults“, bringing together experts to discuss Denmark’s progress in implementing comprehensive care pathways for schizophrenia. The webinar highlighted country-specific findings barriers, and best practices in delivering youth-focused mental health care.
About Schizophrenia Care in Denmark:
Denmark’s recent governmental initiatives represent significant progress toward comprehensive schizophrenia care. New measures will ensure early intervention services are available for all age groups nationwide, supported by national treatment guidelines and quality databases. The Danish model emphasises early detection, evidence-based treatments, and integrated care across the life course. While challenges remain—including treatment gaps for young people, regional access disparities and persistent stigma—Denmark’s 10-year action plan for mental health care demonstrates ambitious commitment to raising psychiatric care to the same standards as cancer treatment. As Denmark concluded its 2025 EU Council Presidency, its advances in early intervention and coordinated care positioned it as a valuable contributor to shaping European brain health policy.
Explore the full Denmark Country Profile to learn more about policy priorities, emerging opportunities and recommendations for advancing schizophrenia care across Europe. (The Danish translation will follow in the coming weeks).
In 2022, the Danish Health Authority presented comprehensive recommendations for a 10-year action plan for strengthening mental health care. In this document, five key challenges were identified:
• Insufficient service availability, capacity, coordination and cooperation
• Insufficient quality and interdisciplinarity in existing mental health and social care services
• Inadequate prevention and early interventions
• Stigmatisation, lack of prioritisation and equity
• Inadequate research, professional development and lack of prestige
Key priorities of the Danish recommendations:
• Establishing easily accessible high-quality services in the municipalities for children and young people with mental health conditions
• Strengthened treatment and care for people with severe mental disorders
• Anti-stigmatisation of mental disorders
• Strengthened multidisciplinary and professional environments
• Further research and development in Psychiatry