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Fighting for help: Why young people in Germany have to wait for therapy
Mental health of children in Northern Germany: Long waiting times for therapy places and increasing stress.
Fighting for help: Why young people in Germany have to wait for therapy
The mental health of children and young people in Germany is under great pressure. The numbers are alarming: one in five young people under the age of 18 experiences a serious mental health crisis within a year. However, many of those affected have to wait a long time to access therapeutic support services - on average around six months hr info reported.
A current study shows that structural problems in the help system contribute significantly to this situation. The 2023 Children's Health Report impressively shows how heavily children and young people are burdened by, among other things, the consequences of the pandemic and current crises such as the Ukraine conflict and the climate crisis. Psychological symptoms are particularly common in girls, which underlines the urgency of the problem medical journal informs further.
The challenges in supply
The overburdened health, school and youth welfare systems are a major obstacle to quick and effective treatment. 15-year-old Mia from Schleswig-Holstein reports that she suffers from anxiety disorders and panic attacks and that her mother had to look for a suitable therapy place for three years. Currently, Mia only receives sporadic therapy sessions, which is not enough to meet her increasing needs daily news describes this impressively.
Experts point out that waiting times for therapy places have doubled in recent years. The need for practicing child and adolescent psychiatrists is not sufficiently met, which is leading to an increase in inquiries in clinics. Urgently needed resident skilled workers are lacking in many regions, such as the Dithmarschen district. The scientist Kristin Rodney-Wolf calls all the more for an adjustment to the needs planning in the social security code in order to close the supply gaps.
Prevention and support
In parallel to these pressing issues, it is important to take preventative measures. Experts recommend integrating the area of mental health more closely into schools, for example through school psychologists and introducing the topic of “mental health” into the curricula. Taking factors such as exercise, nutrition and health literacy into account is also a step in the right direction to better support young people.
Last but not least, climate fear, which affects 59% of 16 to 25 year olds, makes it clear that new topics must also be included in this discussion. The exciting question remains whether and how young people can be more closely involved in the design of their own health care in order not only to promote their own stability, but also to make an active contribution to overcoming social challenges.
With the right changes in the support systems and more public awareness, the situation for the mental health of the young generation in Germany could improve significantly.