The use of coercive methods in Danish psychiatry has decreased by approximately ten percent from 2021-2023 to 2024, according to the Danish Health Authority. This decline includes fewer instances of belt fixations (restraints), holds, and the administration of acute sedative medication.

Deputy Director of the Danish Health Authority, Nanna Skovgaard, views this reduction as a “positive” development. However, she cautions that the data covers a limited timeframe, making it premature to determine if the decline is permanent.

For many years, Danish regions have aimed to reduce the use of coercion in psychiatric care, with a stated goal of a 30 percent reduction by 2030.

Jane Alrø Sørensen, Secretary General of Bedre Psykiatri (Better Psychiatry), a national association for relatives of people with mental illness, welcomes the development as “good news.” She hopes that these figures indicate a shift towards prioritizing patience, relationships, and care over restrictive measures.

Coercion is recognized as a significant infringement on an individual’s autonomy. The Danish Health Authority acknowledges that there may be situations where coercion is necessary, particularly when a patient is unable to care for themselves.

When coercion is unavoidable, it must be the least intrusive method and applied for the shortest duration possible.

In the past year, there were 15,655 episodes involving belt fixations, holds, and/or acute sedative medication for adults, with 2,745 adults experiencing at least one of these forms of coercion.

Additionally, there were 1,975 such episodes involving children, affecting a total of 130 children and young people.