German Government and Schools Boost Mental Health Initiatives for Youth
The German government and educational sectors are enhancing nationwide initiatives to support mental health among children and adolescents with strategies, school programs, and awareness events planned by 2026.
- • The German government is developing a national mental health strategy for young people to be implemented by 2026.
- • The Startchancen-Programm supports over 4,000 socially disadvantaged schools with €20 billion allocated over ten years, including mental health promotion.
- • Around 20% of German students feel mentally burdened, with worries including war, school performance, and climate change.
- • Schools are being encouraged to act as safe spaces with counseling and relaxation areas to support students, with figures like counselor Matthias Lauxtermann leading efforts.
Key details
In response to rising mental health concerns among children and adolescents in Germany, the federal government is developing a comprehensive "Mental Health for Young People" strategy, aiming for implementation by 2026. This move comes amid reports that around 20% of German students feel psychologically burdened, with major anxieties including global conflicts, school performance, and the climate crisis. The strategy focuses heavily on prevention and early detection through educating parents, providing low-threshold counseling, and training educators. Additionally, the government plans to enhance collaboration between education, youth welfare, and healthcare sectors to promote resilience and reduce stigma surrounding mental illness among youth.
A key element of this effort is the Startchancen-Programm, which supports over 4,000 general and vocational schools with a high proportion of disadvantaged students by allocating €20 billion over ten years. Health promotion, including mental health support for students, forms the program’s second pillar. The program is expanding, with nearly 1,900 schools newly incorporated for the 2025/2026 school year.
On the ground, educators like Matthias Lauxtermann, a counseling teacher in Osnabrück, are addressing student mental health directly. Highlighting how schools must serve as "safe spaces," Lauxtermann notes increased psychological disorders, especially among girls, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. He stresses the importance of providing students areas for relaxation and open conversations, tackling issues such as performance pressure and the impact of unrealistic social media body images.
In parallel, Leipzig is gearing up to mark the International Day of Mental Health on October 10, 2025, with events designed to raise awareness and encourage dialogue. Organized at the Leipzig City Library, the program includes speeches by political and sports figures, literary readings, music performances focusing on depression and hope, and panel discussions involving mental health professionals and advocacy groups. This event aims to foster openness and optimism in addressing mental health challenges across communities.
These combined governmental strategies, school-based initiatives, and public awareness efforts underscore Germany’s commitment to improving mental health outcomes for its youth as part of a broader societal push toward prevention, early intervention, and destigmatization.