Therapy guarantee to enter into force for children and young people on 1 May 2025

The wellbeing services county will introduce a new therapy guarantee, i.e. establish maximum waiting times for children and young people to access therapy services, ensuring that under 23-year-old young people have access to mental health services within 28 days starting from the day when the need for care has been established. The goal with the therapy guarantee is to ensure equal access to psychosocial care and short-term psychotherapy included in the therapy guarantee and according to the client's needs.

When assessing the need for care and support, the most important task is to identify the symptoms together with a professional in primary healthcare and social welfare services.

Our wellbeing services county is prepared to welcome the therapy guarantee by training and coaching our professionals in the use of appropriate therapy methods.

If you are a parent to a pre-school child and worried about your child's mood swings and need support to tackle the challenges related to your child’s depressive symptoms, you can contact the nurse at the maternity and child health clinic or guidance and advice for families with children.

If you are a student or parent to a school-aged child and need support to tackle challenges related to a child’s or young person’s depressive symptoms, we encourage you to start by contacting the student welfare professionals at your own school or educational institution.

If you do not have access to student welfare services, you can contact your own health station or the mental health and substance abuse services.

Based on your symptoms, the professional will redirect you to suitable care and support. If the form of care you need is included in the therapy guarantee, you have the right to gain access to care or treatment within 28 days.