According to experts, psychological stress and problems in children and adolescents are becoming increasingly noticeable in everyday school life - with consequences for lessons, the school climate and teachers. "Not only the increase, but also the lack of coordinated procedures for dealing with mentally disturbed pupils is an additional burden," said Veit Roessner, Head of the Clinic for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Dresden University Hospital, to the German Press Agency.
School absenteeism can also be the result of mental illness
"However, absenteeism can be caused by a variety of factors, including mental illness - such as anxiety or obsessive-compulsive disorders," said Roessner. There is a risk that measures will be taken over a long period of time without clarifying the actual problem.
According to Roessner, there is currently no uniform strategy across Germany: "We first need a proper diagnosis." However, this cannot be done by a GP or social worker, but only by a child and adolescent psychiatrist. "Only on this basis can a sensible decision be made: Who does what?" With limited resources, it makes little sense for many agencies to work in parallel and for schools and youth welfare offices to react with contradictory measures.
Saxony launches project to relieve everyday school life
In Saxony, a project is now set to provide a remedy. The project partners are the Clinic for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Dresden University Hospital, Arnsdorf State Hospital and the Ministry of Education. The Otto Beisheim Foundation is funding the majority of the measures - with the aim of expanding and consolidating the project if it has a positive impact.
