Struggling Mental Health Among Young Girls in Thuringia Persists
Despite a slight dip in 2022, young girls in Thuringia continue to seek treatment for mental health issues at a higher rate than before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to DAK-Gesundheit's annual report on children and adolescents. Depression, anxiety, and eating disorders have become more prevalent among this age group, with a striking 38% increase in eating disorder cases last year compared to 2019.
Following a surge in new mental health cases during the initial two years of the pandemic, the figures dropped in 2022. However, the report revealed that the treatment numbers still exceeded pre-pandemic levels. DAK's state head, Marcus Kaiser, advocated for enhanced prevention measures.
The study assessed outpatient and inpatient data from insured individuals between 2017 and 2022. The report found that the diagnosis of mental illness and behavioral disorders decreased by 18% in young girls in 2022 compared to 2021. Nevertheless, the figure remained 10% higher than it was in 2019. The new case rate for young boys did increase by 7% compared to 2021, but it was still 8% below pre-pandemic levels.
Girls tend to seek help for psychological stress more frequently than boys, as suggested by these figures. Marcus Kaiser, DAK's Thuringia representative, emphasized the need to ensure that boys do not get overlooked in the process.
Researchers from the University of Bielefeld, among others, analyzed billing data from around 17,600 DAK-insured children and young people of up to 17 years old in Thuringia for the report. DAK's nationwide client base includes 5.5 million policyholders, with approximately 130,000 in Thuringia.
Additional Insights:
- Depression and Anxiety: The scoping review on outpatient psychotherapeutic care for children and adolescents in Germany suggests a disproportionate increase in the incidence of depressive and anxiety disorders among female adolescents during the pandemic.
- Socio-Economic Factors: The review indicates that socio-economic status, the severity of mental health problems, related impairment, specific diagnoses, and comorbidities play a role in determining the likelihood of seeking help for mental health issues.
- Gender Differences: Mental or behavioral disorders are more common among male children until the age of 15, but from 15 onwards, females are more likely to be diagnosed. Female adolescents are more prone to substance use, anxiety, eating, and personality disorders. Although boys are initially diagnosed more frequently, they may have lower actual access to and utilization of psychotherapeutic care compared to girls during adolescence.
[1] Heim, L., Adelboden, C., Brühlmeier, H., Lindert, M., & Burra, U. (2021). Outpatient psychotherapeutic care for children and adolescents in Germany: a scoping review. BMC Psychiatry, 21(1), 1-16. ()
