Mental stress in young people: Crises leave their mark!

Mental stress in young people: Crises leave their mark!

A current survey by the Chair of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy at the University of Regensburg shows alarming results on the mental health of young people in Germany. In March 2025, 2,000 teenagers and young adults aged 16 to 21 were surveyed. The study reveals that well over half of those surveyed suffer from severe psychological stress that is directly related to global crises such as wars and climate change. Loud uni-regensburg.de More than 50% of young people feel burdened by political and international conflicts.

The survey confirms that the consumption of stressful media content has a significant impact on mental health. Almost 50% of young people say they regularly watch disturbing videos about war, with 20% even being exposed to such content on a daily basis. This results in 20% of respondents suffering from post-traumatic symptoms, including difficulty sleeping and reverberating memories. This situation is alarming because 70% of young people with severe stress do not intend to seek psychological help.

Effects of the pandemic and the current crises

The mental health of children and adolescents remains a concern years after the COVID-19 pandemic. A study by the University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf shows that around 21% of the young people surveyed will continue to face significant impairments in their quality of life in 2022 and 2023. Young people who come from disadvantaged backgrounds, such as: COPSY study proven.

The pandemic-related restrictions and the associated social isolation have led to an increase in loneliness and psychological problems. While 14% of young people felt lonely before the pandemic, this proportion has increased to 21%. The studies also show that 32% of young people are regularly confronted with stressful content on social media, which further increases concerns about global crises. The climate crisis is particularly troubling for many young people, with 59% of 16 to 25 year olds expressing great concern.

The state of the help systems

In addition to the psychological stress, the support system is under immense pressure. In its 2023 child health report, this is stated Medical Journal found that waiting times for therapy places have doubled due to the overloaded systems. This means that many young people do not receive the help they urgently need due to a lack of available support services. The recommendations for improving the situation include expanding therapy offerings, raising awareness among adults about the issue of mental health and involving young people in planning their own health care.

In conclusion, there is an urgent need to develop a comprehensive strategy to improve adolescent mental health. The study from Regensburg, coupled with the results of the COPSY study and the children's health report, illustrates the urgency of taking the stresses faced by young people seriously and taking appropriate measures to sustainably improve their quality of life.