New Targeted Mental Health Programs Launched in Blekinge and Dalarna

In December 2025, significant mental health initiatives have been approved and launched in the Swedish regions of Blekinge and Dalarna, focused on enhancing preventive care, employment support, and suicide prevention.

In Blekinge, the regional committee LSVO approved multiple projects funded through state grants from Uppdrag Psykisk hälsa, a government and Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SKR) collaboration. Key initiatives include adapting the national mental health strategy "Det handlar om livet" to local circumstances, extending the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model to aid individuals with mental health conditions in securing employment, and implementing the FINGER model, which targets lifestyle factors for dementia prevention. A family center will also be established in Ronneby to provide coordinated support for children aged 0-6 and their guardians, involving collaboration among local health and social services. Additionally, a reform project aims to improve integrated care for patients with co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorders. The government has allocated 1.32 billion kronor towards these efforts with a strong emphasis on suicide prevention and improving life conditions for those with psychiatric illnesses. Changes to funding application processes are also planned to better support local collaborative healthcare programs.

Meanwhile, in the Dalarna region, particularly in Orsa and Vansbro—the municipalities with the highest suicide rates—preventive actions launched four years ago are showing progress. The first Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) course was recently completed by staff from various health and social services in Orsa. This course, based on an Australian model and facilitated by NASP-trained instructors, aimed to equip participants with skills to recognize and respond to depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. The initiative forms part of Orsa’s suicide prevention action plan, emphasizing the importance of training local instructors to sustain community education. Helena Berglund, first-line manager at the local health center, highlighted the training’s role in the strategy. Participants, including home care workers like Ida Brun, stressed the critical need for open conversations to address loneliness and emotional struggles, especially among the elderly. Following the course’s success, further training sessions are planned, including targeted courses for the elderly population.

Together, these regional efforts reflect Sweden’s broader commitment to improving mental health through prevention, coordinated care, and community education, ensuring support systems are well adapted to local needs and challenges.