ADHD, depression, anxiety: “Stress continues through social media and false information”

2024-09-18 10:42:58

An expert describes the mental stress on children and young people as “anxiety”. The lack of prevention programs is also criticized. Insurers can amplify existing fears through social networks.

Even two years after the Covid pandemic, mental stress among children and young people is still high. “Today it is wars, the climate crisis and the increase of young people who are worried about,” said Michael Kölch, director of child and adolescent psychiatry at the University of Rostock. He described the mental stress on children and young people as “unsettling”.

Here are the current events legislature German Society for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy (DGKJP) with more than 1700 partners in Rostock. Under the title “Crisis? Change it! ”, experts will exchange new research results from September 18th to 21st.

Although the pandemic has ended, mental health has not improved – on the contrary: the burden on families, teenagers and young people remains high, said Parliament President Kölch. This is also confirmed by the current study by the Federal Institute for Population Research (Like B): Correspondingly, deterioration in mental health, physical activity and general well-being continues to be noticeable.

During the pandemic, the frequency of anxiety and depressive symptoms increased significantly, especially among children aged 11 to 15. At the same time, the activity of young people decreased significantly. BiB in Wiesbaden announced that the exact same has not been decided.

One reason is the feeling that the world is dominated by various crises – whether war and migration, climate change and natural disasters, the 54-year-old doctor explained. Many people are troubled by external uncertainty and stress. “Long-term stress is often increased by high social media use and misinformation,” said Kölch. Followers through Instagram or TikTok can promote eating disorders such as anorexia and misinformation about migration can cause fears.

Prevention programs are not lost

The most common mental illnesses in children and adolescents are ADHD, depressive disorders, eating disorders, anxiety and depression disorders, self-injurious behavior and addictions, Kölch said. Although in reality, one can get sick, in turn, it affects young people from poor families: “Their risk of getting sick is three times that of the better-off sections of the population. ,” explained Rostock’s son and budding psychiatrist.

It is a myth that nothing has changed in the last 20 years. “We need targeted and landscape prevention programs,” asked Kölch. Because: The earlier a condition is identified and treated, the better. Last but not least, mental health is also important for the healthy development and proper development of young people.

Young people don’t always get help quickly: health, school and youth welfare systems are very burdensome and waiting times for a place in therapy are often long. Kölch: “The weaknesses of our welfare system are currently showing, everyone is just doing their own thing, we need to rebuild it quickly.”

There is a need for the development of a cross system of care, a better network between child and youth welfare services, hospitals, schools and therapists. “This is the only way the crisis can be controlled,” he assured. Small-scale, digital prevention programs can also play a big role. At the same time, Kölch assured us that: “Not every young person in trouble needs treatment for many years.”

epd/sk