To emphasise the importance of the message, Barbara Gorges-Wagner from the "Child and Youth Hotline" provided insight into recent statistics surrounding mental health. Especially the category of "psychosocial health" is worrying, officials noted, given that the number of distress calls made in 2021 is significantly higher than that from the previous year.
The helpline recorded 46 calls in relation to suicidal thoughts, more than twice as much as in 2020. At the same time, 21 people sought help because of depression. To better cater to the needs of children and adolescents struggling with such anxieties, or loneliness, the helpline decided to launch a regular chat consultation, which takes place every Tuesday evening.
Another issue was the "petition 1516", which was filed last year. Author Sarah Thoss commented on the initiative: "Every two years, pupils have to see a doctor in schools, who usually performs a physical examination and refers patients to specialists in case of an emergency. My proposition is to do exactly the same with psychologists, meaning we would have someone come to the school and talk to students about mental health, and where to find help."
Thoss believes that an external psychologist will have better chances of connecting with pupils. She finally underlined the importance of making mental health an acceptable subject for young people.
