Region Stockholm Enhances PTSD Care in Järva with Increased Funding and Localized Services

Region Stockholm's psychiatry committee has decided to strengthen care for patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) by increasing the contracted order to Ersta Diakoni by 10% in 2026 and another 10% in 2027. This enhancement involves providing PTSD care two days a week at the Husby-Akalla health center in the Järva district starting September 2026, aiming to reach individuals who might not seek help on their own, especially those affected by sexual violence, torture, war, or flight.

Since March 2024, Ersta Diakoni has offered care, treatment, and psychosocial interventions for individuals with PTSD linked to sexual violence and migration-related traumas under a contract valid through August 31, 2028. The expanded care initiative will cost nearly five million kronor for 2026 and 2027. This program is part of a long-term commitment to foster more equitable psychiatric care in Stockholm.

Sandra Ivanovic Rubin (MP), chair of the psychiatry committee, emphasized the importance of this targeted effort, stating, "Many who carry traumas from sexual violence, torture, war, or flight do not seek care on their own. We are strengthening this care so that more can benefit from it." The expanded services will also improve coordination between the PTSD competence center and WeMind, which covers the geographical Järva area. This pilot program aims to serve as a model for reaching vulnerable groups unlikely to seek care otherwise, potentially influencing similar initiatives across the country.