For many years, the number of visitors to child and adolescent psychiatry around the country has increased steadily.
In Jämtland County, for example, the number of patients has increased by approximately 10 percent per year over the past ten years.
But then last year the numbers really took off.
- In 2020, we saw a fairly substantial increase in the number of referrals from other parts of the health care system, says Mikael Lec-Alsén who is area manager for Children, young people, adults in Region Jämtland Härjedalen.
He believes that the pandemic contributed to the increase because young people had less time in school, were more at home and had fewer social contacts.
May have long-term consequences
Jämtland is not the only region that last year saw an increase in the number of patients.
Twelve regions reported how many referrals were received to child and adolescent psychiatry.
Compared with the year before, they together saw a 17% increase.
Sweden's municipalities and regions, which compiled the figures, believe that it is too early to draw any clear conclusions from the effects of the pandemic - but note at the same time that there are many indications that mental illness has increased and that it also risks having long-term consequences.
Long queues even before the pandemic
In Jämtland, Mikael Lec-Alsén points out that even before the pandemic, they had difficulty helping all patients in time.
- Some issues can be waited for up to a year and it is an unreasonable time, he says.
Over the years, they have had to recruit staff and they are still hiring more, but the question is whether it helps as the number of patients continues to increase.
- We are constantly lagging behind.
According to Mikael Lec-Alsén, it is not just a question of resources for child and adolescent psychiatry. In the video above, he tells what he thinks needs to be done.