Nordic network for improved mental health services

In the Nordic countries, we are all working to bring good digital mental health services to the population. A Nordic collaboration on how to offer internet-based treatments has the potential for fruitful collaboration and sharing of experiences and solutions. Forhelse SFI has therefore initiated a Nordic network and invited representatives from Iceland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland to the third Nordic network meeting at the ESRII2025 conference.

Several topics were discussed at the meeting, including the implementation of internet-based psychological treatments, robust health service models, sharing of content in treatment programs and technology across national borders, as well as quality assurance of internet-based psychological treatments using quality registers with examples from Sweden.

We need common healthcare models

Participants from all countries except Iceland attended the meeting. There was general agreement that there is a great need for a Nordic network in the future and that it is important to clarify issues such as how to define digital treatment and who should be included from the various countries in the network (e.g. patients, businesses, clinicians, leaders and politicians). The discussion in Viljnus also pointed out that a key goal for the network could be for the Nordic countries to map and prepare recommendations for health service models for digital health services across the Nordic countries.

Now that a Nordic Network for internet-based psychological treatments has been established, the next step is to carry out a survey with the aim of being able to offer an experience-based recommendation to decision-makers of good robust service models. Forhelse SFI looks forward to staying in touch with our Nordic colleagues.