Record number of young people being forced into psychiatric treatment

Most cases involve teenagers aged 14-18

Christian Wenande

Aug 25, 2015

The number of children and young people being forced into psychiatric treatment in Denmark has more than tripled over the past decade, according to new figures from the State Serum Institute.

Last year 225 children and young people were coerced into undergoing psychiatric treatment, compared to just 60 in 2004, the figures showed.

“There are more cases of serious self-inflicted injury, and that’s down to lacking preventative measures and perhaps an increase in the number of young people who handle their crises by hurting themselves,” Jan Kristensen, the head consultant at the Region Hovedstaden’s children and youth psychiatric centre, told Metroxpress newspaper.

READ MORE: Anxiety an increasing problem for Danish children

Could be even higher
Kristensen said that most cases involve teenagers aged 14-18 who suffer from serious psychoses, depression and eating disorders.

The figures also revealed that young people were force-fed 50 times last year, compared to 20 times in 2004.

Experts fear the number could be even higher since up until June this year, doctors didn’t register the cases as being forced if the parents of a child under the age of 15 gave their permission for the treatment.

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