GITNUXREPORT 2025

Sweden Mental Health Statistics

Swedish mental health improves; treatment access and youth still face challenges.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

In 2022, about 1.3 million people in Sweden received some form of mental health support

Statistic 2

Digital mental health services in Sweden have seen a 40% increase in usage over the past five years

Statistic 3

The average wait time for mental health treatment in Sweden is approximately 28 days

Statistic 4

Only 35% of individuals with mental health issues in Sweden receive specialized treatment, indicating a gap in care

Statistic 5

About 78% of Swedish adolescents with mental health issues receive some support from schools or local health services.

Statistic 6

Mental health services in rural areas of Sweden are accessed 30% less frequently than in urban centers

Statistic 7

The percentage of Swedish adults seeking mental health support online has increased by 50% over the last three years

Statistic 8

Sweden ranks in the top 10 countries in Europe for mental health service accessibility, according to Eurohealth statistics

Statistic 9

Less than 25% of Swedish populations believe mental health treatment is easily accessible, indicating ongoing barriers

Statistic 10

The number of mental health hospitalizations in Sweden has declined by 15% over the past decade

Statistic 11

Approximately 15% of Swedish adults experience mental health issues annually

Statistic 12

The lifetime prevalence of depression in Sweden is estimated at 16%

Statistic 13

Women in Sweden are diagnosed with depression twice as often as men

Statistic 14

68% of Swedish adults report feeling mentally well at least once a week

Statistic 15

Approximately 12% of Swedes experience severe anxiety disorders

Statistic 16

The prevalence of ADHD diagnosed in Swedish children is about 4%

Statistic 17

Sleep disturbances are reported by around 30% of Swedish adults regularly

Statistic 18

Suicide attempts are more common among Swedish women, with women accounting for 60% of attempts

Statistic 19

Nearly 70% of Swedes aged 25-44 report experiencing stress at least once a week

Statistic 20

Approximately 10% of Swedish adults have experienced suicidal thoughts in the past year

Statistic 21

45% of Swedish healthcare professionals report feeling emotionally exhausted due to work-related stress

Statistic 22

Around 18% of Swedish adults use some form of complementary or alternative mental health treatment

Statistic 23

Nearly 50% of young Swedish adults report feeling lonely often or sometimes

Statistic 24

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health issue among Swedish women, affecting roughly 17% at some point in their lives

Statistic 25

Approximately 7% of Swedish adults have experienced Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Statistic 26

Recurring mental health issues are reported by 22% of Swedish adults, indicating chronic conditions

Statistic 27

The percentage of Swedes diagnosed with bipolar disorder is approximately 1%

Statistic 28

Approximately 4% of Swedish children are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, often co-occurring with mental health issues

Statistic 29

The rate of depression among elderly Swedes (65+) is about 12%, often underdiagnosed

Statistic 30

Nearly 80% of Swedish adults report having at least one episode of mental health difficulty during their lifetime

Statistic 31

The prevalence of social anxiety disorder among Swedish youth is approximately 10%

Statistic 32

Roughly 5% of Swedish adults suffer from obsessive-compulsive disorder

Statistic 33

40% of mental health cases in Sweden involve comorbid substance abuse

Statistic 34

Suicide rates in Sweden decreased from 17 per 100,000 in 2000 to 13 per 100,000 in 2020

Statistic 35

The cost of mental health-related absence from work in Sweden exceeds 20 billion SEK annually

Statistic 36

Around 20% of Swedish youth aged 16-24 report symptoms consistent with depression or anxiety

Statistic 37

Approximately 25% of Swedish students report feeling frequently anxious or overwhelmed

Statistic 38

Around 9% of Swedish children aged 10-17 experience mental health problems

Statistic 39

The proportion of adolescents perceiving their mental health as good has decreased from 75% in 2010 to 65% in 2022

Statistic 40

Depression is the leading cause of disability among Swedish youth aged 15-24

Statistic 41

Nearly 60% of Swedish students report that their mental health has negatively impacted their academic performance

Statistic 42

About 65% of Swedes aged 18-29 report experiencing moderate to high levels of stress

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Key Highlights

Approximately 15% of Swedish adults experience mental health issues annually
Around 20% of Swedish youth aged 16-24 report symptoms consistent with depression or anxiety
The lifetime prevalence of depression in Sweden is estimated at 16%
Suicide rates in Sweden decreased from 17 per 100,000 in 2000 to 13 per 100,000 in 2020
In 2022, about 1.3 million people in Sweden received some form of mental health support
Digital mental health services in Sweden have seen a 40% increase in usage over the past five years
Approximately 25% of Swedish students report feeling frequently anxious or overwhelmed
Around 9% of Swedish children aged 10-17 experience mental health problems
Women in Sweden are diagnosed with depression twice as often as men
The average wait time for mental health treatment in Sweden is approximately 28 days
68% of Swedish adults report feeling mentally well at least once a week
The proportion of adolescents perceiving their mental health as good has decreased from 75% in 2010 to 65% in 2022
Depression is the leading cause of disability among Swedish youth aged 15-24

Sweden’s mental health landscape reveals a complex picture: while more Swedes than ever are accessing digital support and the suicide rate has fallen, rising levels of anxiety, depression, and unmet care needs highlight persistent challenges in safeguarding the well-being of all ages.

Mental Health Service Utilization and Access

In 2022, about 1.3 million people in Sweden received some form of mental health support
Digital mental health services in Sweden have seen a 40% increase in usage over the past five years
The average wait time for mental health treatment in Sweden is approximately 28 days
Only 35% of individuals with mental health issues in Sweden receive specialized treatment, indicating a gap in care
About 78% of Swedish adolescents with mental health issues receive some support from schools or local health services.
Mental health services in rural areas of Sweden are accessed 30% less frequently than in urban centers
The percentage of Swedish adults seeking mental health support online has increased by 50% over the last three years
Sweden ranks in the top 10 countries in Europe for mental health service accessibility, according to Eurohealth statistics
Less than 25% of Swedish populations believe mental health treatment is easily accessible, indicating ongoing barriers
The number of mental health hospitalizations in Sweden has declined by 15% over the past decade

Mental Health Service Utilization and Access Interpretation

Despite increasing utilization and digital innovation, Sweden’s mental health landscape reveals a paradox where rising support numbers and top-tier accessibility rankings contrast sharply with persistent gaps in specialized care, rural disparities, and public perception—highlighting that even in one of Europe’s most progressive systems, reaching true mental health equity remains an ongoing challenge.

Prevalence and Demographic Insights

Approximately 15% of Swedish adults experience mental health issues annually
The lifetime prevalence of depression in Sweden is estimated at 16%
Women in Sweden are diagnosed with depression twice as often as men
68% of Swedish adults report feeling mentally well at least once a week
Approximately 12% of Swedes experience severe anxiety disorders
The prevalence of ADHD diagnosed in Swedish children is about 4%
Sleep disturbances are reported by around 30% of Swedish adults regularly
Suicide attempts are more common among Swedish women, with women accounting for 60% of attempts
Nearly 70% of Swedes aged 25-44 report experiencing stress at least once a week
Approximately 10% of Swedish adults have experienced suicidal thoughts in the past year
45% of Swedish healthcare professionals report feeling emotionally exhausted due to work-related stress
Around 18% of Swedish adults use some form of complementary or alternative mental health treatment
Nearly 50% of young Swedish adults report feeling lonely often or sometimes
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health issue among Swedish women, affecting roughly 17% at some point in their lives
Approximately 7% of Swedish adults have experienced Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Recurring mental health issues are reported by 22% of Swedish adults, indicating chronic conditions
The percentage of Swedes diagnosed with bipolar disorder is approximately 1%
Approximately 4% of Swedish children are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, often co-occurring with mental health issues
The rate of depression among elderly Swedes (65+) is about 12%, often underdiagnosed
Nearly 80% of Swedish adults report having at least one episode of mental health difficulty during their lifetime
The prevalence of social anxiety disorder among Swedish youth is approximately 10%
Roughly 5% of Swedish adults suffer from obsessive-compulsive disorder
40% of mental health cases in Sweden involve comorbid substance abuse

Prevalence and Demographic Insights Interpretation

Sweden's mental health landscape reveals a nation grappling with widespread issues—from depression and anxiety to loneliness and burnout—highlighting that even a prosperous society must confront its shadow side, as approximately 80% of Swedes experience mental health challenges at some point and women bear a disproportionate burden, underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive support and destigmatization.

Suicide Rates and Mortality Data

Suicide rates in Sweden decreased from 17 per 100,000 in 2000 to 13 per 100,000 in 2020

Suicide Rates and Mortality Data Interpretation

Sweden's declining suicide rate from 17 to 13 per 100,000 between 2000 and 2020 suggests that, while progress has been made, there's still a crucial need to keep mental health support in focus—because every life saved is a victory worth striving for.

Workplace and Societal Impacts of Mental Health

The cost of mental health-related absence from work in Sweden exceeds 20 billion SEK annually

Workplace and Societal Impacts of Mental Health Interpretation

Sweden’s mental health crisis costs the economy over 20 billion SEK each year, highlighting that even the most picturesque countries aren't immune to the high price of unspoken struggles.

Youth and Adolescent Mental Health

Around 20% of Swedish youth aged 16-24 report symptoms consistent with depression or anxiety
Approximately 25% of Swedish students report feeling frequently anxious or overwhelmed
Around 9% of Swedish children aged 10-17 experience mental health problems
The proportion of adolescents perceiving their mental health as good has decreased from 75% in 2010 to 65% in 2022
Depression is the leading cause of disability among Swedish youth aged 15-24
Nearly 60% of Swedish students report that their mental health has negatively impacted their academic performance
About 65% of Swedes aged 18-29 report experiencing moderate to high levels of stress

Youth and Adolescent Mental Health Interpretation

Swedish youth's mental health crisis—where one in five shows depression or anxiety, nearly two-thirds feel overwhelmed, and academic performance suffers—it's clear that even the north's famed idyllic veneer can't hide the rising tide of stress and despair among its youngest generations.