2024-04-032023/24:SoU15 · p.11SoUHealth & social services
Mental health
Preventive work against mental ill health in children and young people
What's at stake: Mental ill health among children and young people is a growing societal problem. The decision affects how structured and swift preventive work becomes, especially for young people at risk and their access to early support.
Case texts and AI reasoning are AI-translated from the Swedish originals; the Swedish text is authoritative.
What the vote decides
The question is whether parliament should commission a dedicated inquiry into preventive work against mental ill health among young people at risk, or whether ongoing national initiatives — including a forthcoming strategy on mental health and suicide prevention and a national coordinator — are sufficient.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The Committee on Health and Welfare points to several initiatives already under way — including the planned appointment of a national coordinator for suicide-prevention work, a forthcoming ten-year national strategy on mental health and suicide prevention, and measures to shorten waiting times and strengthen first-line care for children and young people — and therefore sees no need for a further inquiry. The motions are rejected.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 14 (V, MP)
The Left Party and the Green Party stress that preventive measures lead to better health, learning and reduced social exclusion, and that programmes such as screening, vaccination and health checks have proven to yield major health gains. They want the government to commission an inquiry to develop proposals for how regions and municipalities can strengthen preventive work for young people at risk of mental ill health.
Summarised from the committee report. Party labels in the summary come from the report, not from the vote.
What do the votes mean here?
Yes The committee proposal: rejecting the motions (keeping things as they are).
No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 14 by V, MP.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
The decision would have held
Explicit commitments that contradicted the vote: CCenterpartiet
Ja 110–35Ja 89–56
Counterfactual: the parties above are moved to the position their own documents explicitly point at, carrying their whole contingent present. Every other party keeps its real figures, including dissenters and absentees.
What each plan points to — and how the party voted
For each party: the vote its own election manifesto and party programme point to in this case, next to how the party actually voted. A plan can only point to Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| Plan | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | No | No 0/21/0/3 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| S | No | Abstain 0/0/92/14 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| MP | No | No 0/14/0/4 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| C | No | Yes 21/0/0/3 | departs from the planagainst own programme | confidence: high | explicit |
| L | No | Yes 14/0/0/2 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| KD | No | Yes 15/0/0/4 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| M | No | Yes 60/0/0/8 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| SD | No | Abstain 0/0/63/9 | departs from the plan | confidence: high | explicit |
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects the motions 2023/24:392 by Clara Aranda et al. (SD) call 23, 2023/24:465 by Karin Rågsjö et al. (V) call 1.2, 2023/24:871 by Linnéa Wickman (S) and 2023/24:1799 by Lili André and Hans Eklind (both KD) calls 1 and 2.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2023/24:392 av Clara Aranda m.fl. (SD) yrkande 23, 2023/24:465 av Karin Rågsjö m.fl. (V) yrkande 1.2, 2023/24:871 av Linnéa Wickman (S) och 2023/24:1799 av Lili André och Hans Eklind (båda KD) yrkandena 1 och 2.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag rejected approximately 100 proposals on public health from motions submitted during the general motion period 2023. The Riksdag pointed primarily to ongoing work within the issues covered by the proposals. The motions addressed vaccination and allergy issues, healthy lifestyles and mental health.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants the government to strengthen public health work through socially preventive measures and preventive health services. (V, MP) — Reservation 14
Plan vs actual vote
Every party, in chamber order: what its own plan pointed to, how it voted, and the reasoning behind both. Highlighted rows are where the two differ — but a vote that follows the plan is a result too, so the reasoning is there for every party.
The election manifesto establishes that far too many children are suffering and that mental ill-health among young people is widespread, and demands investment in student health, special education teachers, youth activities and social support.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto establishes that far too many children are suffering and that mental ill-health among young people is widespread, and demands investment in student health, special education teachers, youth activities and social support. The counter-proposal's demands for an investigation into how regions and municipalities can develop preventive work for young people at risk align with this. The plan also requires the right to quick help even for mental ill-health.
Original (Swedish)
Valplattformen konstaterar att alltför många barn far illa och att den psykiska ohälsan bland unga är utbredd, och kräver satsningar på elevhälsa, specialpedagoger, fritidsverksamhet och socialt stöd. Motförslagets krav på en utredning om hur regioner och kommuner kan utveckla det förebyggande arbetet för unga i riskzonen ligger i linje med detta. Planen kräver också rätt till snabb hjälp även vid psykisk ohälsa.
- widespread mental ill-health among young peopledecisive»Alltför många barn far illa idag och den psykiska ohälsan bland unga är utbredd.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Far too many children are suffering today and mental ill-health among young people is widespread.”
- investment in student health»Det krävs satsningar inte bara på undervisning utan också på elevhälsa, specialpedagoger, fritidsverksamhet och socialt stöd.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Investment is required not only in teaching but also in student health, special education teachers, youth activities and social support.”
- quick help for mental ill-health»Du ska ha rätt till hjälp snabbt oavsett om du har brutit benet eller blivit utbränd.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“You have the right to quick help whether you have broken a bone or suffered burnout.”
The plan gives preventive work the same weight as interventions afterwards and points to cooperation between student health services, social services and school as the way to catch young people.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan gives preventive work the same weight as interventions afterwards and points to cooperation between student health services, social services and school as the way to catch young people. The counter-proposal wants to investigate how regions and municipalities can develop exactly that preventive work for young people at risk. The plan's requirement for equal conditions for children and young people and for timely care points in the same direction.
Original (Swedish)
Planen ger det förebyggande arbetet samma tyngd som insatserna i efterhand och pekar ut samverkan mellan elevhälsa, socialtjänst och skola som vägen att fånga upp unga. Motförslaget vill utreda hur regioner och kommuner kan utveckla just det förebyggande arbetet för unga i riskzonen. Planens krav på likvärdiga villkor för barn och unga och på vård i tid pekar åt samma håll.
- cooperation around young peopledecisive»Det behövs mer samarbete mellan polis, elevhälsa, socialtjänst och skola.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“There needs to be more cooperation between police, student health services, social services and school.”
- preventive work prioritised»För varje krona som läggs på fler poliser, ska minst en krona läggas på det förebyggande arbetet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“For every pound spent on more police, at least one pound shall be spent on preventive work.”
- equal conditions for young people»Alla barn och ungdomar ska ha rätt till likvärdiga villkor« (party programme ↗)“All children and young people shall have the right to equal conditions”
- timely care»Ingen ska behöva känna oro över att få vård i tid.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“No one shall need to feel worried about receiving timely care.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The election manifesto promises to strengthen student health and increase access to mental health care, and the party programme demands active cooperation between student health, primary care, youth clinic and psychiatry for children and young people.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto promises to strengthen student health and increase access to mental health care, and the party programme demands active cooperation between student health, primary care, youth clinic and psychiatry for children and young people. To investigate how regions and municipalities can develop preventive work for young people at risk is directly in line with this.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet lovar att förstärka elevhälsan och öka tillgången till vård för psykisk ohälsa, och partiprogrammet kräver aktiv samverkan mellan elevhälsa, primärvård, ungdomsmottagning och psykiatri för barn och unga. Att utreda hur regioner och kommuner kan utveckla det förebyggande arbetet för unga i riskzonen ligger direkt i linje med detta.
- strengthened student healthdecisive»förstärka elevhälsan och satsa på fler skolsköterskor, specialpedagoger, psykologer och kuratorer i skolan.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“strengthen student health and invest in more school nurses, special educators, psychologists and counselors in school.”
- cooperation on youth mental health»unga krävs det en aktiv samverkan mellan elevhälsa, föräldrar, primärvård, ungdomsmottagning« (party programme ↗)“young people requires active cooperation between student health, parents, primary care, youth clinic”
- increased access to mental health care»satsa på primärvården och öka tillgången till vård för psykisk ohälsa.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“invest in primary care and increase access to mental health care.”
- early intervention pays off»Rätt stöd som sätts in i tid är både mänskligt och samhällsekonomiskt mer effektivt än stöd som kommer senare i livet.« (party programme ↗)“Right support that is put in place in time is both humane and more cost-effective for society than support that comes later in life.”
The election manifesto states that mental illness among children and young people is too high and that work must become more preventive with easy ways into care.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto states that mental illness among children and young people is too high and that work must become more preventive with easy ways into care. The counter-proposal's demand for an investigation into how regions and municipalities can develop preventive work for young people at risk aligns directly with that line. The party programme also makes preventive work a prerequisite for sustainable welfare.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet slår fast att den psykiska ohälsan bland barn och unga är för hög och att arbetet måste bli mer förebyggande med enkla vägar in i vården. Motförslagets krav på en utredning om hur regioner och kommuner kan utveckla det förebyggande arbetet för unga i riskzonen ligger direkt i den linjen. Partiprogrammet gör dessutom förebyggande arbete till en förutsättning för hållbar välfärd.
- prevent mental illness in youthdecisive»Den psykiska ohälsan hos våra barn och unga är alldeles för hög och vi måste arbeta mer förebyggande och skapa enkla vägar till vården« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Mental illness among our children and young people is far too high and we must work more preventively and create easy ways into care”
- better support for young people»Stödet för personer med psykisk ohälsa måste förbättras, inte minst för unga.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Support for people with mental illness must be improved, especially for young people.”
- preventive welfare»En förutsättning för en hållbar välfärd är ett förebyggande förhållningssätt.« (party programme ↗)“A prerequisite for sustainable welfare is a preventive approach.”
- shorter queues to child psychiatry»Köerna till BUP måste arbetas bort.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Waiting lists at BUP must be worked down.”
The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.
The plan establishes that the right to care is equally self-evident for both physical and mental illness and that mental health shall be a stated public health goal, with primary healthcare as responsible for milder mental illness.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that the right to care is equally self-evident for both physical and mental illness and that mental health shall be a stated public health goal, with primary healthcare as responsible for milder mental illness. Early and preventive measures are highlighted as decisive for children and young people in vulnerable situations. An investigation into how regions and municipalities can develop preventive work for young people at risk thus aligns with the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att rätten till vård är lika självklar vid psykiska som vid fysiska sjukdomar och att psykisk hälsa ska vara ett uttalat folkhälsomål, med primärvården som ansvarig för lättare psykisk ohälsa. Tidiga och förebyggande insatser lyfts fram som avgörande för barn och unga i utsatta situationer. En utredning om hur regioner och kommuner kan utveckla det förebyggande arbetet för unga i riskzonen ligger därför i linje med planen.
- equalised mental health caredecisive»Rätten till vård och behandling är lika självklar för både fysiska och psykiska sjukdomar.« (party programme ↗)“The right to care and treatment is equally self-evident for both physical and mental illness.”
- early preventive measures»Tidiga och förebyggande insatser är avgörande.« (party programme ↗)“Early and preventive measures are decisive.”
- primary healthcare's responsibility»Primärvården bör ansvara för patienter med mildare psykisk ohälsa.« (party programme ↗)“Primary healthcare should be responsible for patients with milder mental illness.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The party programme places particular emphasis on rapid and accessible expertise for children and young people with mental ill-health, and the election manifesto promises greatly strengthened school health services with an integrated child and youth health service.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme places particular emphasis on rapid and accessible expertise for children and young people with mental ill-health, and the election manifesto promises greatly strengthened school health services with an integrated child and youth health service. The counter-proposal's demand for an investigation into how regions and municipalities can develop preventive work for young people at risk aligns with these commitments and with health promotion work being stimulated.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet lägger särskild vikt vid snabb och tillgänglig kompetens för barn och unga med psykisk ohälsa, och valmanifestet lovar kraftigt stärkt elevhälsa med en sammanhållen barn- och ungdomshälsovård. Motförslagets krav på en utredning om hur regioner och kommuner kan utveckla det förebyggande arbetet för unga i riskzonen ligger i linje med dessa åtaganden och med att hälsofrämjande arbete ska stimuleras.
- prioritized child and youth psychiatrydecisive»Särskild vikt ska läggas vid snabb och tillgänglig kompetens för barn och ungdom med psykisk ohälsa.« (party programme ↗)“Particular emphasis shall be placed on rapid and accessible expertise for children and young people with mental ill-health.”
- strengthened school health services»Kraftigt stärkt elevhälsa med en sammanhållen barn- och ungdomshälsovård och föräldrastödsprogram som erbjuds alla föräldrar.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Greatly strengthened school health services with an integrated child and youth health service and parental support programmes offered to all parents.”
- accessible psychiatry»Psykiatrisk vård och omsorg ska präglas av tillgänglighet och flexibilitet utifrån patientens behov.« (party programme ↗)“Psychiatric care and services shall be characterized by accessibility and flexibility based on the patient's needs.”
- health promotion work»Hälsofrämjande arbete ska stimuleras.« (party programme ↗)“Health promotion work shall be stimulated.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan prioritizes children's and young people's mental health highly: statutory care guarantee for children, strengthened child and adolescent psychiatry and a national strategy against suicide with particular focus on children and young people.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan prioritizes children's and young people's mental health highly: statutory care guarantee for children, strengthened child and adolescent psychiatry and a national strategy against suicide with particular focus on children and young people. The counter-proposal's demand for an investigation into how regions and municipalities can develop the preventive work for young people at risk aligns with these commitments. The plan also wants to strengthen support lines that catch young people early.
Original (Swedish)
Planen prioriterar barns och ungas psykiska hälsa högt: lagstadgad vårdgaranti för barn, förstärkt BUP och en nationell strategi mot självmord med särskilt fokus på barn och unga. Motförslagets krav på en utredning om hur regioner och kommuner kan utveckla det förebyggande arbetet för unga i riskzonen ligger i linje med dessa åtaganden. Planen vill också stärka stödlinjer som fångar upp unga tidigt.
- strengthened child and adolescent psychiatrydecisive»Stärka barn- och ungdomspsykiatrin så att barn och unga som mår dåligt får hjälp snabbt« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthen child and adolescent psychiatry so that children and young people who feel unwell get help quickly”
- national suicide strategy»Ta fram en nationell strategi mot självmord, med särskilt fokus på barn och unga« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Draw up a national strategy against suicide, with particular focus on children and young people”
- care guarantee for children»Införa en ny lagstadgad vårdgaranti för barn« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Introduce a new statutory care guarantee for children”
- strengthened support lines for young people»Stärka Bris nationella stödlinje och andra stödlinjer så att de kan hålla öppet dygnet runt« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthen Bris national support line and other support lines so that they can be open around the clock”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan establishes that young people's mental illness requires several measures that prevent mental problems at an early stage, and wants to detect and treat mental illness early and significantly strengthen student health services.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that young people's mental illness requires several measures that prevent mental problems at an early stage, and wants to detect and treat mental illness early and significantly strengthen student health services. The counter-proposal's demand for an investigation into how regions and municipalities can develop preventive work for young people at risk directly aligns with this. The plan also wants to give social services tools to intervene earlier.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att ungas psykiska ohälsa kräver flera åtgärder som förebygger psykiska besvär i ett tidigt skede, och vill tidigt upptäcka och behandla psykisk ohälsa samt kraftigt förstärka elevhälsan. Motförslagets krav på en utredning om hur regioner och kommuner kan utveckla det förebyggande arbetet för unga i riskzonen ligger direkt i linje med detta. Planen vill också ge socialtjänsten verktyg att gå in tidigare.
- prevent youth mental illnessdecisive»För att möta den psykiska ohälsan hos unga krävs ett flertal åtgärder som kan möta och förebygga framtida psykiska besvär i ett tidigt skede.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“To address mental illness in young people requires a number of measures that can address and prevent future mental problems at an early stage.”
- early detection and treatment»Tidigt upptäcka och behandla psykisk ohälsa« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Detect and treat mental illness early”
- strengthened student health»Kraftigt förstärka elevhälsan« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Significantly strengthen student health services”
- early social services interventions»Socialtjänsten behöver också verktyg att tidigare gå in med skarpa åtgärder när det kommer till unga som far illa.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Social services also need tools to intervene earlier with sharp measures when it comes to young people who are suffering.”
The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2023/24:SoU15)
- Committee report full text (HB01SoU15)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2023/24:1005 — Fler behöver TBE-vaccination av Åsa Westlund och Mathias Tegnér (båda S)
- Motion 2023/24:1171 — Barnaga klassat som folkhälsoproblem av Markus Wiechel (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:1173 — Ett utvecklat folkhälsoarbete av Markus Wiechel (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:1191 — Internationellt kris- och hälsosamarbete av Markus Wiechel (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:120 — Utredning av anmälnings- eller tillståndsplikt för kyltornsanläggningar av Eric Palmqvist (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:1258 — Förbättrad hälsa hos barn och unga av Anders Ådahl (C)
- Motion 2023/24:1276 — Minskning av den antimikrobiella resistensen både nationellt och internationellt av Marie-Louise Hänel Sandström m.fl. (M)
- Motion 2023/24:1306 — Avgiftsfritt TBE-vaccin för barn av Adrian Magnusson m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2023/24:1402 — Lex Rebecka - att orka leva, att våga leva av Ann-Sofie Alm (M)
- Motion 2023/24:1423 — Preventiva insatser mot suicid hos äldre av Ann-Sofie Lifvenhage (M)
- Motion 2023/24:1479 — Gratis TBE-vaccin för barn och unga under 18 år av Louise Thunström och Sofia Skönnbrink (båda S)
- Motion 2023/24:1512 — Främjande av vaccinering mot TBE i riskområden som Blekinge av Heléne Björklund (S)
- Motion 2023/24:171 — Ohälsosamma livsmedels påverkan på folkhälsan av Angelica Lundberg (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:1712 — Antibiotikaresistens är fortfarande ett globalt hälsoproblem av Margareta Cederfelt (M)
- Motion 2023/24:1799 — Kriskommission för barns och ungas psykiska hälsa av Lili André och Hans Eklind (båda KD)
- Motion 2023/24:189 — Psykisk ohälsa bland skuldsatta samt självmord av Magnus Jacobsson (KD)
- Motion 2023/24:1915 — Utökning av vaccinationsprogrammet för barn så att det också gäller TBE-vaccin av Magnus Manhammar (S)
- Motion 2023/24:1933 — Suicidprevention av Sofia Amloh och Louise Thunström (båda S)
- Motion 2023/24:2063 — En kvalitativ cancervård i framkant av Carina Ståhl Herrstedt m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:2066 — Astma- och allergivården i Sverige av Carina Ståhl Herrstedt m.fl. (SD)
Source: The Swedish Parliament