Denmark’s psychiatric emergency telephone function became nationwide on August 17, 2026, as all five regions attached staff with psychiatric experience to their existing acute phone lines.
DR reports that from today, people in acute mental distress can reach personnel with psychiatric experience when they contact the acute health services. The rollout is described in a press release from Danske Regioner.
There is no single new number for everyone to call. Instead, the relevant number depends on where the caller is. In Region Hovedstaden the psychiatric function is connected to 1813, while people in Region Sjælland can call 1818.
Lotte Klitfod, deputy director of Akutberedskabet, is responsible for implementing the psychiatric emergency line. She told DR’s P1 Morgen that callers will meet the same entry point to the health system, whether the problem is physical or mental. Health staff assess the situation and can bring in colleagues with psychiatric experience.
That help can take the form of a conversation, advice, or assistance in reaching a psychiatric emergency department or another relevant service. According to Klitfod, a mental health crisis does not have to involve immediate danger to life. Examples include serious thoughts of self-harm, severe agitation, or voices that make the situation unmanageable.
In cases of immediate danger to life, people should still call 112. The Danish Health Authority repeats in a news item dated August 17 that 112 remains the number for life-threatening situations. The authority links the initiative to efforts to give equal access to acute help for physical and mental illness.
Which regions were already covered
Psychiatric support through the acute services was already established in Region Nordjylland, Region Midtjylland and Region Syddanmark. There, psychiatric staff have been attached to 112 and the out-of-hours doctor service. Klitfod told DR that the start in western Denmark has been quiet, but that the option matters.
Sundhedspolitisk Tidsskrift adds that in those three western regions the function is tied to the regional out-of-hours doctor numbers, while the eastern regions use 1813 and 1818. Politiken lists the regional numbers and notes that no new national number has been introduced.
Sydnyt reports comments from Health and Church Minister Ida Auken, who says it becomes easier for all citizens to get help with acute mental illness from August 17. Per Sydnyt, she points to calling 112 or the out-of-hours doctor as a fast route to psychiatric advice.
Why now
The timing follows a national agreement on a psychiatric emergency telephone, reported by Sundhedsmonitor in January 2025. That agreement set out a gradual rollout during 2025 and full implementation in 2026. A professional briefing from Region Nordjylland, published on Sundhed.dk in November 2025, described limited opening hours from December 1, 2025, expanding toward full coverage.
Region Hovedstaden and Region Sjælland are the last to join the scheme.
