Frustration mounts over psychiatric wait times as private care becomes a lifeline in Denmark

Malene Lund Staugaard describes her experience of regaining her sense of self after spending around 20,000 kroner for private psychiatric evaluation. After being referred by her doctor in April 2023 for ADHD assessment, she faced an agonizing wait until May 2025 for public service treatment, a delay she likened to having her life on pause. Frustrated by this lengthy wait, she and her husband decided to invest their savings to seek immediate help in the private sector, where she received her ADHD diagnosis and began treatment.

Staugaard noted the efficiency of the private service, stating that scheduling was clear and straightforward, which contrasted sharply with her experiences in the public system. Waiting times for psychiatric help have been rising for years. Currently, non-urgent adult patients, like Staugaard, can expect to wait an average of 103.6 weeks for an appointment. In her home region of Midtjylland, the wait can extend to 183.2 weeks—roughly three and a half years.

Now working as a freelance editor, Staugaard reports feeling significantly better and has regained her quality of life, with family and friends commenting on her revitalized spirit.

The rising inequality in healthcare access has prompted responses from Danish authorities. Vibeke Gamst, vice-chair of the Psychiatry and Social Committee, acknowledges the worsening situation but emphasizes that it is concerning if timely treatment depends on personal financial means. She advocates for improvements in the public psychiatric system, expressing hope that efforts to secure more funding will lead to shorter wait times in the future. Staugaard, however, feels fortunate to afford private care, highlighting the unfairness of a system where only those with financial resources can bypass long waits for essential treatment.