News Item
100 million DKK for improved conditions in psychiatry
33 promising research ideas for creating better conditions within psychiatry have just received funding from the Independent Research Fund Denmark. The funds support research in prevention and treatment of psychiatric issues, including eating disorders, psychiatric medication during breastfeeding, depression, and the use of coercion in psychiatry.
The DKK 100 million is meant to create better conditions for research in the prevention and treatment of mental disorders: the funds are, among other things, meant to ensure that individuals with mental disorders receive interventions of high professional quality and to strengthen research in preventing and treating distress and mental disorders.
Ingrid Melle, chair of the 'Better Framework for Psychiatry' committee and professor at the Institute of Clinical Medicine at the University of Oslo, comments on the allocation:
"It is absolutely necessary that more research is conducted in this area. Mental disorders often affect young people, and it can have a significant impact during a crucial developmental period when young people finish education, move away from home, and start their own families. It affects both the individual, and at the same time, it is among the diseases that cost society the most to treat. Having funds for both treatment and research that can improve treatment has potentially significant, positive effects for a very large group of people."
The purpose of the 'Better Framework for Psychiatry' programme is to support the intentions outlined in the 'Agreement on a 10-year plan for psychiatry and mental health regarding research.'
Jørgen Frøkiær, Chair of the Board of Independent Research Fund Denmark, states:
"Psychiatry and mental health are research areas that not only concern the entire society but also impact the individual's everyday life. There is already a national 10-year plan, and it pleases me that the fund is now contributing to it with the 33 new, excellent research projects that address both prevention and treatment challenges."
The programme should be viewed in conjunction with the national research strategy from 2015, "Research for the Benefit of People with Mental Disorders – a national strategy."
A total of 167 applications were submitted, and funds were allocated to 33 projects at universities and hospitals nationwide. The original research ideas received between DKK 2.2 million and DKK 4.3 million, and the research projects typically run for 3-5 years.
About the allocation
Nearly DKK 100 million has been allocated to a total of 33 new research projects that will investigate the effectiveness of new treatment methods and the potential for improving existing treatments. The success rate is 20 percent, measured by the number of projects that received funding out of the total number of applications.
The nearly DKK 100 million for 'Better Framework for Psychiatry' was earmarked as part of the "Agreement on free research, health, and children and youth. The allocated funds also align with the Agreement on a 10-year plan for psychiatry and mental health dated September 27, 2022.
Please note that the mentioned amounts may change after the upcoming budget review.