Government proposes maximum waiting time for access to therapy for children and young people
The Government proposes a maximum waiting time of one month for access to primary mental health services from the date when the need for help was established. This would apply to children and to young people under 23 years of age. The help would be free of charge.
“The aim of the maximum waiting period is to respond to the increase in mental health symptoms among children and young people at an early stage and effectively,” Minister of Social Affairs and Health Kaisa Juuso says.
The Government proposal would lay down a special provision according to which brief psychotherapy or standardised and time-restricted psychosocial treatment belonging to primary health care for children and young people under 23 years of age should start within 28 days from the date when the need for such treatment was established.
In social welfare, psychosocial support should be provided within a month from the date when the need was established.
Low-threshold care and support for mental health issues
The maximum waiting time for access to therapy for children and young people would cover the prevention and treatment of mental health conditions. A medical assessment of the need for care for a child or young person or diagnosis of a mental health condition would not be required in all situations. The maximum waiting time would also apply to cases that are milder than actual mental health conditions.
The proposed legislation would apply to services provided by the wellbeing services counties and to student healthcare in higher education.
The proposal implements the Programme of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s Government. The maximum waiting time for access to therapy for children and young people is part of the national services reform.
The estimated costs of the proposal are EUR 35 million a year. As the legislation concerning the maximum waiting period is proposed to enter into force on 1 May 2025, the costs with respect to that year would total about EUR 24 million. In the long term, the successful implementation of the maximum waiting period is estimated to reduce the need for more work-intensive services, which means that, besides the human benefits, it would also have positive impacts on general government finances.
The Finnish-language version of the draft Government proposal was circulated for comments from 29 April to 9 June 2024 and the Swedish-language version from 8 May to 18 June 2024. A total of 101 statements were submitted.
The Government submitted its proposal to Parliament on 23 September 2024. The proposal is related to the budget proposal for 2025. The proposed acts are scheduled to enter into force on 1 May 2025.
Inquiries:
Titta Honkala, Senior Specialist for Legal Affairs, tel. +358 295 163 457, [email protected]