Children’s ombudsman calls for urgent action as over 3,000 are waiting for mental health services in Iceland

Over three thousand children are currently on waiting lists for mental health services and similar resources, despite a reduction in waiting lists over the years. The children’s ombudsman has expressed concern over the inadequate improvements in children’s mental health services and has called for urgent action from the government.

According to a recent summary from the ombudsman’s office, approximately 2,000 children are waiting for services at the Children’s Mental Health Center, with estimated waiting times for ADHD assessments approaching two years and nearly three years for autism evaluations. The Diagnostic and Counseling Center has 626 children waiting for evaluations, where the average waiting time exceeds 20 months. In contrast, the waiting time is shorter at the Capital Area Health Clinics, where 209 children are waiting to see a psychologist, with an average time of just over six months. Meanwhile, 47 children are on a waiting list for services at BUGL’s outpatient clinic, with a waiting time of 1.8 months, and 100 children are waiting for services at the Health School, where the wait can extend to 12 months.

The ombudsman hopes that publicizing this information will shed light on the realities faced by children in Icelandic society and will serve as a motivation for the government to take action. Data released also revealed that in the first half of the year, 40 children were categorized as victims in sexual abuse cases and 63 in violence-related cases, highlighting the critical need for improved support services. Despite recent increases in funding leading to shorter waiting times for some services, challenges remain for others, including assessments and treatment related to obesity.