Govt proposes 1-month maximum waiting time for access to therapy

The government proposed a maximum waiting time of one month for access to primary mental health services from the date when the need for help was established, said the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health in a press release on Monday.

This would apply to children and to young people under 23 years of age. The help would be free of charge.

The government submitted its proposal to Parliament on Monday and the proposed acts are scheduled to enter into force on May 1, 2025.

“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 said.

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.

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 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.