Denmark social services face scrutiny over mental health care and staffing

A 13-year-old girl suffering from severe mental illness has been placed in a high-security institution behind barbed wire and metal detectors, living alongside young people in custody for criminal offenses. Her mother, Rikke Skafte, reports that the placement followed six months of the family attempting to care for the child at home because no other residential facilities would accept her due to her condition.

In a separate development regarding social services, Denmark's Minister for Children, Seniors, and Housing, Jacob Mark, has announced that Odder Municipality will face supervision from the Appeals Board (Ankestyrelsen). Odder is one of eight municipalities identified as failing to meet minimum staffing requirements in local institutions.