Embracing Mental Health: Navigating Psychological Support for Students Now
Students now have access to psychological assistance - Students Turn to Psychological Support Services
In a bid to help students recognize and cope with mental stress, a new online platform is at your disposal. You can find it specialized resources at jugendlichestaerken-niedersachsen.de. Inside, you'll discover explanations, contact information, worksheets for teachers, and valuable insights for parents.
Lower Saxony’s Minister of Culture, Julia Willie, drawing attention to a study by Hamburg University Medical Center, suggests that one in five children and young adults consider their health to be compromised. Annoying behaviors, psychological quirks, anxiety, bullying, violence, sexual misconduct, and social media influences are significant factors contributing to these issues. "These are significant warning signs we must acknowledge and address immediately," declared the green representative.
This platform is a spin-off from an initiative by the State School Council, aspiring to serve as a central point for mental health resources – helped visitors avoid navigating through a maze of offers. According to the School Council’s Chairperson, Matteo Feind, the platform’s importance is to extend towards schools for maximum reach and impact.
Minister Willie plans to write to school principals, spreading the word about the platform and hoping that this encourages more teachers to invest in professional development opportunities in mental health. Emphasizing her stance, the minister appealed to parents not to let their children go through crises single-handedly, stating, "The world is challenging right now, and even though we are going through turbulent times, we carry the responsibility to accompany and support our children."
While such a professional psychological helping hand cannot replicate the platform, it does offer guidance on when and how young people should reach out to adults.
Oftentimes, it's peers who observe changes in others. According to Mathias Kauff, a social psychologist from the Medical School Hamburg who developed the site on behalf of the Ministry of Culture, "Many young people suffer in silence and hide their struggles." Awareness is the first step in ensuring a supportive environment for friends and classmates alike. If anyone has concerns about a friend or classmate, they can learn more about mental health and disorders – even dealing with suicidal thoughts – on the site.
The platform emphasizes that seeking help is a sign of strength and encourages transparency, with young people between the ages of 14 and 19 being the primary target audience. The state has allocated 200,000 euros for this purpose.
Psychotherapists stress their concerns regarding high media consumption
The Psychotherapists’ Chamber in Lower Saxony has observed the impact of the pandemic on children and young adults. Board member Goetz Schwope explains that although 80% have coped resiliently with the crisis, 20% have struggled. Average media consumption hovers around six to eight hours, with consequences such as isolation, depression, anxiety, and eating disorders, particularly among girls.
With therapy places in high demand, Schwope emphasizes the need for low-threshold, group preventive therapeutic measures that could provide relief for psychologically burdened children and adolescents. Moreover, he suggests that primary schools should be better equipped with qualified professionals to cater to a diverse student body.
The massive demand for psychotherapy appointments leads to delays – students might have to wait up to half a year for treatment. Pablo Sennett from the Children’s Protection Association believes that delaying treatment can make mental health issues more entrenched. Furthermore, he points out that childhood and adolescence are crucial periods for treating mental health issues to minimize lifetime consequences.
Together with the Lower Saxony Children’s Protection Association, the Psychotherapists’ Chamber is advocating for a statewide strategy to bolster the mental health of young people. suggests Sennett.
- The new online platform at jugendlichestaerken-niedersachsen.de provides valuable resources and insights for parents, teachers, and students, aiming to help them recognize and cope with mental stress in children and young adults.
- Matteo Feind, the Chairperson of the State School Council, emphasizes the importance of the online platform as it serves as a central point for mental health resources, making it easier for individuals to access support.
- Goetz Schwope, a board member of the Psychotherapists’ Chamber in Lower Saxony, highlights the need for low-threshold, group preventive therapeutic measures due to the high demand for psychotherapy appointments and the potential lifelong consequences of untreated mental health issues in children and adolescents.
