“Rising mental health crisis among children and young people in Waldeck-Frankenberg due to Corona pandemic”

Many children and young people in the Waldeck-Frankenberg district are still suffering from the consequences of the corona pandemic.

Waldeck-Frankenberg – Above all, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorders, depression and eating disorders have increased, and the clinical pictures are more pronounced, says Dr. Dietmar Eglinsky, Clinic Director of the Vitos Children’s and Youth Clinic for Mental Health in Kassel. The clinic also includes an outpatient clinic for young people in Korbach.

Although many would have survived the time well, “but we notice the effects that are left behind”. The demand in the child and youth outpatient clinic for mental health in Korbach is correspondingly high. “For new registrations, the waiting time can be up to three months,” says Eglinsky. But, as he emphasizes: “The psychiatric emergency care for children and young people from Waldeck-Frankenberg is guaranteed.” But then there is a travel expense for the relatives, because emergencies are treated in Kassel.

In the first lockdown phase, the use of child and adolescent psychiatric services initially decreased, says Dr. Martina Wendel, chief physician for psychosomatics and psychotherapy at the Bad Arolser Schön Klinik. As a result, there was “a significant increase in mental illnesses, with a particularly strong increase in the group of female adolescents,” according to the specialist in child and adolescent psychiatry. Anxiety disorders and depressive disorders, as well as anorexia and compulsive disorders have been occurring much more frequently since the corona pandemic. “The increased number of young people who have lost touch with school and vocational training and have no prospects is also worrying,” says the chief physician. Waiting times for inpatient treatment have always been long. Times have gotten longer over the past two years.

Due to the increased demand, there are now 19 additional places for young people in the Arolser Schön Klinik, a total of 79. As a result, the waiting time for a treatment place is four to twelve weeks, depending on the illness.

A survey by the University of Leipzig made it clear that waiting times for registered psychotherapists in Germany almost doubled when Corona began.

District school spokesman: “That does something to you”

“The Corona period was mentally very stressful,” says district school spokesman Hendrik Brand on behalf of the student body in the district. At times you could only keep in touch with others via the Internet, for months you had to sit at home: “You don’t have to be Prof. Dr. to know that something is affecting you,” says the 18-year-old.

The corona pandemic was a heavy burden for all age groups, says Hendrik Brand. But young people were often not seen, “youth has no lobby,” says the student at the Frankenberg Edertal School.

He refers to a survey by the state student council that was carried out between the end of 2021 and the beginning of 2022. 9,500 students commented on current topics, including Corona. One result: “During the pandemic, schoolchildren were affected by a lack of daily structure, rest, loneliness, listlessness and also fear of the future,” and there was “only a lack of opportunities for social interaction”. The funding program of the state of Hesse performed poorly. Around 62 percent of those surveyed don’t even know “lion’s strength”.

Some also found the transition to “normal everyday school life” difficult, says Brand. This also applies to coming behind in class. jj