Children's souls under pressure: How crises put a strain on their well-being!

Children's souls under pressure: How crises put a strain on their well-being!

A new episode of the “Umdenken” podcast will be released on August 12th, in which Prof. Dr. Georg Romer, Director of the Clinic for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy at the University Hospital of Münster, talks about the concerns and confidence of children and young people. Despite ongoing global crises, an upcoming episode shows that many young people are optimistic about the future, especially when surrounded by a strong social environment. This is positive news given the challenges children and young people have faced in recent years, including the stresses of the COVID-19 pandemic and other global crises.

Current data from the “Shell Youth Study 2024” shows that over 50% of young people regularly find out about political issues. This development could be a sign that younger generations are becoming more active and conscious of their environment. However, specific groups, such as non-heterosexual adolescents, show a higher tendency to fear the future. According to Romer, young people who experience problems in communication and complex relationships with their parents often have greater difficulties, especially in the post-Corona period.

Influence of the corona pandemic and global crises

The COPSY study, which examines the impact of COVID-19 and other global crises on the mental health of children and adolescents in Germany, shows a significant decline in mental well-being. Recent results show that the mental health of children and young people years after the corona pandemic is worse than before the pandemic. In fall 2024, approximately 5% more children and adolescents reported poorer mental health.

According to the study, 21% of young people suffer from persistent impairments in their quality of life. Worries about geopolitical conflicts such as the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, economic uncertainties and climate change are particularly stressful for young people. Before the pandemic, such worries only led to loneliness for 14% of young people, while in 2024 21% reported feeling lonely often.

• 72% machen sich aufgrund von Kriegen Sorgen.
• 62% sorgen sich wegen wirtschaftlicher Unsicherheiten.
• 57% sind besorgt wegen der Klimakrise.

The COPSY study, led by Prof. Dr. Ulrike Ravens-Sieberer and Dr. Anne Kaman, has been surveying families of over 2,865 children and young people aged 7 to 22 since May 2020 about various aspects of their lives. The results of this extensive study will be used to develop preventive and interventional measures to improve the mental health of young people.

Implications for parents and society

Although Romer points out the increased vulnerability in adolescence, he emphasizes that encouraging treatment successes are possible. However, he appeals to parents to monitor their children's media consumption, especially in the age group of 10 to 13, in order to reduce the risk of loneliness. However, as they get older, they should also act cautiously to allow children their privacy and their own decisions when dealing with the online world.

Another central concern is the unequal distribution of counseling and therapy services in Germany. Romer draws attention to the major regional differences. There are a high number of psychotherapists in metropolitan areas, while rural regions are often underserved. This imbalance could have serious consequences for the mental health of children and young people in these areas.

The data from the COPSY study makes it clear that children with strong social and family support are better able to navigate through times of crisis, while children from disadvantaged backgrounds are particularly at risk. It is therefore of great urgency to strengthen social resources and provide necessary support.

In summary, it shows that children and young people can have courage and confidence despite difficult circumstances if their social networks are strong. However, ongoing dialogue about the needs and challenges of the young generation remains essential.

For further information about the COPSY study, visit the website UKE or read the latest reports on the Website of the University of Münster.

In addition, the latest results and developments can be found in the press releases from UKE to find.