Readmission rate for psychiatric patients rises in Denmark amid concerns over mental health services

In Denmark, every time four psychiatric patients are discharged from a facility, one of them quickly becomes so unwell that they require readmission. A recent analysis reveals that the rate of readmissions within 30 days has risen from 17% in 2002 to 25.8% in 2022.

Mia Kristina Hansen, chair of the mental health organization Sind, explains that some patients are stabilized and medicated, yet are often discharged on Thursdays or Fridays to make room for new admissions. She shared a typical case: a man in his 30s diagnosed with schizophrenia who was sent home after a brief stay, receiving only two hours of municipal support per week. Shortly after, he became fearful and unwell at home and had to be readmitted.

As the rate of readmissions increases, the average length of stay in psychiatric wards has decreased. The average was 28.8 days in 2002 but dropped to 14.8 days in 2022. Jane Alrø Sørensen from Better Psychiatry attributes this trend to inadequate treatment during shorter stays, emphasizing the need for more comprehensive and accessible mental health services in communities.

Hansen highlighted gaps in the system where patients often fall between the cracks of municipal and regional support, particularly during weekends when resources may not be available.

In 2023, the government established the Health Structure Commission to explore a new healthcare framework, while a broad parliamentary agreement has set forth a ten-year mental health plan allocating 500 million kroner annually. Despite some progress, Hansen remains skeptical, expressing concerns that current measures are insufficient to address the urgent needs of the psychiatric sector. She underscores the dire state of mental health services, calling for a more serious commitment from policymakers.