Best for Us is a five-year project (2024–2029) designed to strengthen support for children and young people experiencing mental distress and mental illness requiring treatment. The project is supported by the Novo Nordisk Foundation and the Obel Family Foundation with a total of DKK 180 million and is the largest foundation grant in Denmark targeted at this group.
The background to the project is a marked increase in the number of children and young people experiencing mental health challenges requiring treatment, which has increased pressure on both municipal and regional services. Many families find that help comes too late or is insufficient, which can have major human and socio-economic consequences. At the same time, there are pronounced social inequalities in terms of who develops mental illness and the level of access to treatment.
Best for Us aims to ensure better and faster treatment for children, young people and families who come into contact with child and adolescent mental health services. New methods for faster assessment and better evidence-based treatment of children and young people with mental distress are continuously developed and tested. The project is built on close, cross-disciplinary collaboration between the region, municipalities and general practice. It also places strong emphasis on involving children, young people, parents and professionals in developing new solutions.
Best for Us is anchored in the North Denmark Region, in a partnership with four collaborating municipalities (Aalborg, Hjørring, Mariagerfjord and Thisted) and Aalborg University. The project is also being developed and tested in collaboration with other regions. As a result, Best for Us works closely with child and adolescent mental health services across Denmark.
Best for Us is expected to deliver tangible improvements for children and young people experiencing mental distress and for their families through faster assessment, better treatment and strengthened cross-sector collaboration. The ambition is that the methods developed and the experience gained can be rolled out to the rest of the country. The project contributes to delivering the goals of Denmark’s national 10-year plan for psychiatry.
Read more about the project at www.bedstforos.dk.
