Kalmar Region Cuts Child Psychiatric Waiting Times

The Social Democratic administration in Sweden’s Kalmar region reports substantial reductions in waiting periods for child and adolescent psychiatric services (BUP). In 2025 the queue for initial assessment fell from 161.3 days to 100.9 days, and the wait for treatment dropped from 118.9 days to 53.4 days. The proportion of children receiving a first appointment within the 30‑day guarantee rose to 98 %, and the average time to the first visit fell from 30.2 days in December 2024 to 19.1 days in November 2025. Officials attribute the progress to intensified political commitment, coordinated efforts across health, school and social services, and the use of intermediate care teams to bridge primary and specialist care.

The administration stresses that, despite the gains, further reductions are needed to ensure timely help for families facing mental‑health crises, and calls for continued investment and stronger collaboration with municipalities.