The number of children who are feeling ill and seeking mental health care has risen sharply in recent years, and child and adolescent psychiatry has had major problems managing the care queues. In 2018, only one third of children received an initial assessment within the national goal; that you should receive help and support within 30 days.
- We see that the mental ill-health among children and adolescents has increased dramatically in recent years, not least among 10-17 year olds. And that the queues for BUP are increasing. That only one region in the entire country lives up to the national guarantee is terrible, says party leader Annie Lööf (C).
Now the government, together with C and L, is investing SEK 300 million every year for three years on child and adolescent psychiatry, Lööf reveals in SVT's Report.
- It is extra money in addition to the 100 million that we have already agreed on previously. They should go to shorten the queues, says Annie Lööf.
Only Gotland can handle the guarantee
So far this year, only Gotland can handle the guarantee of care. Here, 97 percent of children received an initial assessment within a month. The gap to the other county councils is great - at the bottom there are among others Uppsala, Västerbotten and Dalarna. In these county councils, fewer than 30 percent of children have received help and support on time.
In Uppsala, you are well aware of the problems.
- Eight years ago we had 3000 patients, today they are 4,500. But we have not received more resources corresponding to this increase, says Anna Servin Cervin, section manager at BUP in Uppsala Region.
The problems in the country have meant that many children and adolescents in Sweden who are feeling ill have had to wait months, in some cases over a year, for help. Uppsala child and adolescent psychiatrist's problems escalated a couple of years ago. Then several employees chose to quit.
"Takes to disappoint children"
- It is incumbent on health care professionals to have to tell families, especially children, that they have to wait. It becomes an ethical stress that wears off. And that makes it tiring, there are work environment problems and people choose to quit sometimes because they can't bear to disappoint children and families, says Anna Servin Cervin.
Now she feels that the mood has turned - and if you get enough money to hire more teams, Anna Servin Cervin believes that the big buying problems can be history, already in six months.
- Yes, if we get 15-20 more people, it would have an effect, says Anna Servin Cervin.