In their call to demonstrate, the rally organisers demanded that psychotherapy should be accessible and affordable for all.
Keystone-SDA
Listen to the article
Listening the article
Toggle language selector
Generated with artificial intelligence.
Thousands of people demonstrated in Bern on Saturday afternoon in favour of access to mental health care for all. They condemned the long waiting lists, the lack of access to therapy and the absence of a clear pricing system.
This content was published on
August 17, 2025 – 13:04
+Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox
The demonstrators, who organisers said totaled around 5,000, held banners proclaiming, among other things, “Psychotherapy should not be a luxury” and “Your therapist is angry”. A minute’s silence was observed in memory of victims of suicide.
“Health is not a market,” said psychotherapist Valentina Achermann, a member of Bern’s city parliament. She called for “money, time and respect”. In her view, it is unthinkable that people in one of the richest countries in the world should have to wait so long to see a therapist.
More
More
Demographics
Is Switzerland in a mental health crisis?
This content was published on
Jul 19, 2024
Mental health has shifted more into focus in Switzerland, and the latest figures confirm an increase in mental illness.
Read more: Is Switzerland in a mental health crisis?
Affordable for all
In their call to demonstrate, the rally organisers demanded that psychotherapy should be accessible and affordable for all. To achieve this, they called for adequate fees, less bureaucracy, affordable training places and better working conditions. The organisers also called for solidarity with those affected.
The demonstration was organised by the “Mental Health for All” initiative, a group of professionals, students and people interested in the field of psychotherapeutic care throughout Switzerland. Their demands were supported by the Social Democrats, the Green Party and various trade unions and organisations active in the health sector.
Disputed pricing system
The organisers are critical of the prescription model in force since 2022, which has been the subject of bitter negotiations between professional organisations and health insurers. Psychotherapists can have their services reimbursed by basic health insurance if patients have a doctor’s prescription. However, insurers are complaining that this will lead to additional costs and are planning to reduce fees.
More
How are mental illnesses treated in your country?
In Switzerland more people are being referred to electrical therapies or psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. Are there similar approaches where you live?
View the discussion
The professional organisations did not take an active part in the demonstration, so as not to offend the negotiating partners at this delicate time, said the Zurich cantonal association. A draft national price system has been on the table since June.
Translated from French with DeepL/gw
How we work
We select the most relevant news for an international audience and use automatic translation tools to translate them into English. A journalist then reviews the translation for clarity and accuracy before publication.
Providing you with automatically translated news gives us the time to write more in-depth articles. The news stories we select have been written and carefully fact-checked by an external editorial team from news agencies such as Bloomberg or Keystone.
If you have any questions about how we work, write to us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Articles in this story
More
Global trade
Trump made direct financial demands during call with Swiss president
This content was published on
Aug 17, 2025
During the telephone call between Karin Keller-Sutter and Donald Trump on July 31, Trump demanded direct payments from Switzerland, according to an investigation by SonntagsBlick.
Read more: Trump made direct financial demands during call with Swiss president
More
Workplace
Swiss businesses plan employee pay raises in 2026
This content was published on
Aug 17, 2025
Swiss companies’ expectations for salary growth are down by 0.3 percentage points compared to a year ago, according to a survey conducted by the Center for Economic Research (KOF).
Read more: Swiss businesses plan employee pay raises in 2026
More
Demographics
One Swiss national killed in plane accident in southern France
This content was published on
Aug 17, 2025
A Swiss national was killed alongside a German national in a crash involving two light aircraft on Saturday afternoon in Saint-Pons, south-eastern France.
Read more: One Swiss national killed in plane accident in southern France
More
Workplace
Over 6,000 apprenticeships remain unfilled in Switzerland
This content was published on
Aug 17, 2025
By mid-August, which is the start of the Swiss school year, some 6,400 apprenticeship vacancies remain, mainly in the construction, catering and machinery industries.
Read more: Over 6,000 apprenticeships remain unfilled in Switzerland
More
Culture
Japanese film Tabi to Hibi wins Golden Leopard at Locarno
This content was published on
Aug 17, 2025
The Japanese film Tabi to Hibi by director Sho Miyake won the Golden Leopard, the top prize in the international competition, on the final day of the Locarno Festival.
Read more: Japanese film Tabi to Hibi wins Golden Leopard at Locarno
More
Emissions reduction
Switzerland could produce up to 5Mt of emissions annually by 2050
This content was published on
Aug 16, 2025
Two to five megatonnes of CO2 equivalents per year: this is the amount of greenhouse gas emissions that Switzerland is still expected to produce annually in 2050, a new study shows.
Read more: Switzerland could produce up to 5Mt of emissions annually by 2050
More
Global trade
US tariffs putting 100,000 jobs at risk in Switzerland
This content was published on
Aug 16, 2025
US tariffs of 39% on Swiss imports will directly affect 100,000 jobs, mainly in the watchmaking, machinery, metals, and food industries, economiesuisse warns.
Read more: US tariffs putting 100,000 jobs at risk in Switzerland
More
Foreign Affairs
Switzerland releases CHF4 million for Sudan
This content was published on
Aug 16, 2025
Switzerland has released CHF4 million (nearly $5 million) to help Sudan, which has been severely affected by famine and cholera.
Read more: Switzerland releases CHF4 million for Sudan
More
Foreign Affairs
Switzerland rejects new Israeli settlements in Palestinian territory
This content was published on
Aug 16, 2025
Switzerland says it rejects the announced construction of thousands of housing units in the Israeli-occupied Palestinian West Bank.
Read more: Switzerland rejects new Israeli settlements in Palestinian territory
More
Workplace
Larry Finck and André Hoffmann named interim co-chairs of WEF board
This content was published on
Aug 16, 2025
The WEF also revealed an investigation commissioned by the board has cleared its founder Klaus Schwab and his wife of accusations made by anonymous whistleblowers.
Read more: Larry Finck and André Hoffmann named interim co-chairs of WEF board