Greens complain about lack of school psychologists

The Greens complain about a shortage of school psychologists in Saxony. The Free State is clearly failing to meet the recommendations of professional associations in this regard, the Green parliamentary group explained. One school psychologist is responsible for 5,000 pupils. Professional associations would recommend a ratio of 1 to 1,000.

The Greens had submitted a minor question to the state parliament.
"While the mental stress of young people continues to rise, the central support structures are completely overloaded," commented MP Christin Melcher on the figures provided by the Ministry of Social Affairs. According to these figures, there are 90 of these psychologists in Bavaria.

Greens: Crisis support not feasible with so few staff

With so few staff, neither effective prevention nor crisis support can realistically be provided, said Melcher. The student representatives are therefore already sounding the alarm. "The state government is largely leaving schools, teachers and school social workers out in the rain to deal with the challenges alone."

Thomas Löser, health expert for the Green parliamentary group, also accused the government of having no data on the situation in child and adolescent psychiatry - on available places, waiting times for diagnostics or therapy and unfilled positions. This makes demand-oriented management completely impossible.

Young people are being left in the lurch, according to the Greens

"While those affected wait months for help, the ministry refers to the hospitals and the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians. In doing so, the CDU and SPD are shirking their political responsibility and letting down the very young people who urgently need help," said Löser.

Greens demand strategy and immediate program

The Greens are demanding a state strategy "Mental Health for Young People" with binding goals and minimum standards. In addition, an immediate program for child and adolescent psychiatry is needed with additional funds to recruit staff and more places in day clinics.

Saxony needs more school psychologists, more contact points for particularly stressed families and children and young people at risk, as well as more multi-professional teams at schools, are further demands. The Greens also want regular monitoring of young people's mental health and the care situation.