Expansion of Malinamottagningarna Services for Young Children's Mental Health
Region Stockholm extends Malinamottagningarna services to bolster mental health support for young children.
Key Points
- • Primärvårdsnämnden extends Malinamottagningarna contracts until May 2029.
- • Services focus on children aged 0-5 with mild to moderate mental health issues.
- • Specialized support for parents and short-term interventions are included.
- • Every municipality in Stockholm must have a healthcare center designated for child mental health care.
In a pivotal decision, the Primärvårdsnämnden in Region Stockholm has announced the extension of contracts for Malinamottagningarna, a specialized service offering psychological support to children aged 0 to 5 years with mild to moderate mental health issues. This extension, effective from June 2026 until May 2029, aims to enhance the mental health services available to the youngest members of the community and support their parents.
Malinamottagningarna, which began operations under agreements signed in 2022 with two providers, Rädda Barnen Vård och omsorg AB and Capio Alva AB, currently operates in six areas across Stockholm. The services are staffed by psychologists with specialist expertise capable of addressing both children's psychological needs and parental concerns about parenting. Additionally, these facilities are tasked with providing short-term interventions and assessing the need for referrals to specialized care when necessary.
The need for these services has been underscored by a 2024 follow-up report which highlighted that all healthcare centers in Region Stockholm have been given a clarified mandate, effective December 1, 2021, to manage children's and young people's mental health. This encompasses guidance and support for children displaying mild mental health problems. Furthermore, each municipality in Stockholm is required to have at least one healthcare center with an extended assignment to provide psychiatric assessments and treatments for children and adolescents aged 6 to 17 years. This strategic approach is a critical step toward establishing a robust framework for early mental health intervention in the region.