NOK 400 million for mental health and substance abuse

“Mental illness is one of the biggest public health challenges we face. We want more people to enjoy good mental health and a good quality of life, and for the assistance provided to those who need it to be easily accessible and of good quality,” says Jan Christian Vestre, Minister of Health and Care Services.

The government has presented an escalation plan for mental health and will soon present a prevention and treatment reform in the area of substance abuse.

“We’re further stepping up investment in mental health in this budget. So far, we’ve boosted investment by more than NOK 1 billion over this plan period,” says Vestre.

Proposed allocation of the NOK 400 million for 2025:

• NOK 150 million for municipal block subsidies to improve low-threshold services
• NOK 100 million for secure psychiatric facilities, such as the establishment of secure accommodation, continuing the increase that came in the revised national budget for 2024
• NOK 36 million for the establishment of ambulatory security teams
• NOK 37 million for insurance excess exemptions for mental health patients and interdisciplinary specialised drug treatment for those up to and including the age of 25
• NOK 7 million for free long-term contraception for women undergoing interdisciplinary specialised drug treatment
• NOK 45 million for various forms of assessment interviews in early clarification teams for mental health referrals
• NOK 25 million for the ABC campaign for mental health

The escalation plan for mental health (in Norwegian) covers the entire population with a particular emphasis on children and young people. The plan is to increase allocations to the area of mental health by NOK 3 billion over the plan period. There are three priority areas in the plan: 

• Health-promotive measures and preventative mental health measures
• Good services where people live
• Services for people with long-term and complex needs

The government is aiming to present a prevention and treatment reform for the area of substance abuse in 2024.

“Through the reform, the government will be able to better prevent drug problems and intervene earlier with effective help, treatment, and follow-up,” says Vestre.