New health care reform: Easier to seek help in mental illness

Already today, primary care is tasked with providing support to people with mild mental illness.

However, the government believes that access to care is not enough - and now it is opening for the health centers to take on a greater responsibility.

- I would say that this is one of the biggest public health challenges we have today in Sweden. Whether you are young, old or in the middle of life, more people experience mental illness. It can be defined in different ways, but it is not a psychiatric diagnosis and you do not need to seek specialist help. You need to address these types of symptoms and signs early so that no sick leave or psychiatric diagnoses develop, says Social Minister Lena Hallengren (S).

She continues:

- It should be easier, and it should also be easier for them to meet with more and better efforts.

In practice, the decision involves a supplementary directive to an existing investigation. Since 2017, the special investigator Anna Nergårdh has been investigating the modernization of Swedish health care. Now she is also commissioned to investigate a new form of care where primary care will be able to provide quick assistance to people with mild mental illness. By January 15, 2021, the assignment must be reported.

And what are you seeing in front of you?

- I see before me that there will be more efforts, that you previously feel that it is natural to turn to primary care also when it comes to mental illness, says Lena Hallengren.

Today's decision is based on what the government previously agreed with the Center Party and the Liberals in the so-called 73-point agreement. They also want the investigator to review what educational efforts are available to address minor mental illness in primary care and if new training is needed.

What differentiates this from the care we have today?

- Today we have a primary care that you turn to no matter what kind of problem you think you have. But very many, and I agree with it, feel that when it comes to mental ill health you do not get the same offer and do not feel that you get the same good treatment. That is why we have agreed with the Center Party and the Liberals to look at another form of care for mild mental illness, and now an investigator will look at this, says Lena Hallengren.