Copenhagen allocates DKK 33 million for adult ADHD/ADD services

The City of Copenhagen has decided to allocate nearly DKK 33 million to reduce waiting times for adults with ADHD or ADD who need support in their daily lives. The decision comes in response to increasing demand and long waiting lists, where some citizens currently wait up to 18 months to access the municipality’s educational programs.

“Having an ADHD or ADD diagnosis should not be a barrier to living a good and functional life, whether it involves family, work, or studies. Therefore, help must be available to those who need it. That’s simply not the case today, as late-diagnosed Copenhageners have to wait up to a year and a half to access our services,” says Health and Care Mayor Sisse Marie Welling (SF).

ADHD and ADD can affect a person’s ability to participate in social life, education, and the job market, while also increasing the risk of co-occurring conditions such as stress, anxiety, and depression. Copenhagen Municipality’s program for adults with a late diagnosis includes educational courses that provide tools to manage everyday challenges.

With the new funding, the municipality will be able to both eliminate the current waiting list and significantly increase the number of courses through to 2029. Starting in 2026, approximately 450 additional citizens are expected to begin courses each year. At the same time, the goal is to reduce the average waiting time to a maximum of six weeks.

“This is not the first – and probably not the last – time we are allocating extra funds to the ADHD/ADD program. But the demand keeps growing, and this area has suffered from a serious backlog. That’s not acceptable, and fortunately, we all agree on that at City Hall,” says Sisse Marie Welling.

Earlier this year, additional funds were also allocated to the area through a so-called budget transfer, where unused funds from previous agreements were redistributed. At the same time, the program was moved organizationally from the Center for Special Education for Adults under the Children and Youth Administration to the Center for Mental Health under the Health and Care Administration to support a more cohesive effort.

The municipality plans to gradually shift the program toward a greater proportion of group-based courses, which is expected to improve both accessibility and efficiency. According to studies, 3–4 percent of adults have ADHD or ADD, which corresponds to between 16,000 and 22,000 residents in the City of Copenhagen.

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