More young people on antidepressants

From 2016-2021 the ratio of people aged 20-29 with prescriptions for psychoanaleptics increased from 5.4 to 7.2 percent

According to new figures from Danmarks Statistik, more and more young people in Denmark are on medication used to treat illnesses such as depression or ADHD.

The figures showed that from 2016-2021, the number of people aged 20-29 with prescriptions for psychoanaleptics increased from 5.4 to 7.2 percent.

A similar increase (from 3 to 4 percent) was registered for people aged 10-19.

Overall, the municipalities of Langeland (13 percent), Norddjurs (12.6 percent) and Morsø (12.3 percent) saw the highest ratio of people who had a prescription for psychoanaleptics from 2016-2021.

Vallensbæk showed the lowest share of people with prescriptions for psychoanaleptics at 6 percent for 2021.

READ ALSO: Psychologists sound alarm over youth mental health problems

Education and background
Psychoanaleptics are used in the treatment of depression and ADHD, but also dementia. That’s probably why the 80+ age group had the highest share (over 20 percent) of people on psychoanaleptics.

The figures also showed that ethnic Danes were more likely to be on psychoanaleptics than groups with an ethnic background other than Danish.

Among ethnic Danes, the share of people on psychoanaleptics was at 9.3 percent in 2021, well above the 6.2 percent for immigrants from western countries and the 2.4 percent for descendents of immigrants from non-western countries.

Finally, the stats also uncovered that there was a higher frequency of people with basic educations (14.6 percent) on psychoanaleptic prescriptions compared to those with higher educations (5.8 percent).

Check out all the figures here (in Danish).




Connect Club is your gateway to a vibrant programme of events and an international community in Denmark.


  • “It’s possible to lead even though you don’t fit the traditional leadership mold”

    “It’s possible to lead even though you don’t fit the traditional leadership mold”

    Describing herself as a “DEI poster child,” being queer, neurodivergent and an international in Denmark didn’t stop Laurence Paquette from climbing the infamous corporate ladder to become Marketing Vice President (VP) at Vestas. Arrived in 2006 from Quebec, Laurence Paquette unpacks the implications of exposing your true self at work, in a country that lets little leeway for individuality

  • Deal reached to bring more foreign workers to Denmark

    Deal reached to bring more foreign workers to Denmark

    Agreement between unions and employers allows more foreign workers in Denmark under lower salary requirements, with new ID card rules and oversight to prevent social dumping and ensure fair conditions.

  • New association helps international nurses and doctors Denmark

    New association helps international nurses and doctors Denmark

    Kadre Darman was founded this year to support foreign-trained healthcare professionals facing challenges with difficult authorisation processes, visa procedures, and language barriers, aiming to help them find jobs and contribute to Denmark’s healthcare system