Mental stress: Diakonie alarmed before the start of school

Ahead of the start of school next week, Diakonie Sachsen is alarmed about the mental health of children and young people. More and more families are seeking help, but the counseling capacities are exhausted in many places, according to Diakonie. "Professionals see the causes of the increasing mental stress among children and young people primarily in the after-effects of the coronavirus pandemic, which have so far been little addressed," Diakonie said. In addition, the generation has been strongly influenced by digital media.

Waiting times for an initial consultation have increased significantly. The CEO of Diakonie, Dietrich Bauer, is calling on politicians to take action: "Especially at the start of school, it is our task to take a closer look at children and young people - not only with regard to grades, but also their mental well-being."