Dieter Schwarz Stiftung Joins National Effort to Boost Youth Mental Health in Germany

On July 22, 2026, the Dieter Schwarz Stiftung announced its new partnership with the Mental Health Alliance, a nationwide initiative focused on enhancing mental health promotion and care specifically for young people in Germany. The alliance, formed earlier in 2026 under the non-profit ProjectTogether, addresses alarming statistics showing that up to two-thirds of mental illnesses manifest symptoms before the age of 25, underscoring the importance of early preventive interventions.

The Mental Health Alliance brings together a broad network of stakeholders, including scientific experts, civil society organizations, government agencies, health insurers, and young people themselves, with the goal of embedding preventive measures into the existing German health system. A key objective is to enhance accessible, low-threshold preventive offerings and integrate indicated and selective prevention into the Social Code Book V (SGB V).

The Dieter Schwarz Stiftung’s involvement builds on its previous collaboration with krisenchat, a digital counseling platform and founding member of the alliance. This partnership reflects the foundation’s strategic focus on not only immediate crisis intervention but also addressing systemic causes of mental health issues to foster resilience, successful educational paths, and societal participation among youth.

Joining prominent supporters such as the Bertelsmann Stiftung, Robert Bosch Stiftung, alv foundation, Beisheim Stiftung, and Fritz Behrens Stiftung, the Dieter Schwarz Stiftung’s engagement emphasizes the critical need for cross-sector cooperation. Professor Dr. Jörg M. Fegert, one of the alliance’s initiators, highlighted the importance of this comprehensive collaboration among science, practitioners, and civil society in elevating mental health priorities for future generations.

This new partnership signifies a meaningful step toward systemic improvements in youth mental health care in Germany, aiming to embed sustainable preventive strategies within the nation’s healthcare framework.