Zina Mönch is one of over 80 mental health trainers who have been working across Germany for a year. She is part of the team of a middle school in Bavaria - the contact person for about 400 students between the fifth and tenth grades. The questions to her concern the mental health of children. "We see a great need among students to talk about tension, stress and emotional exhaustion," Mönch told German public broadcaster ARD. Especially after the coronavirus pandemic, it is becoming increasingly clear that young people need more support, she explains.
Family Affairs Minister Lisa Pauss launched this program a year ago, recalls the German public-law media. Her motto is "Say what's up. Do what you can", and the government allocated ten million euros for her. Now is the time for the first assessment - according to the minister, the program is small, but has a big effect. "It creates an opportunity to talk about mental health," says Paus and recalls that the program helps young people become stronger and recognize their good sides.
To make students more resilient
The main task of the trainers who work as part of this program is prevention. They organize events in the schools with free entry, says Zina Mönch. And the questions they discuss with the children are, for example, the following: what talents they have, what to do when they don't feel well, and how they can recover after a difficult trial. The goal is for students to build mental resilience to problems. In addition to the preventive work, individual conversations are planned with the students who are willing, writes ARD.
Annika Schramm is also a mental health trainer - in Munich. She confirms to the German public-law media that the problems of young people are not to be underestimated. "Unfortunately, these problems can often lead to depression and anxiety. From there it can even lead to thoughts of suicide," says Schram. Many students have told her that they haven't talked about their concerns with another adult. In such cases, the trainers offer the students options for therapy - many of those working in this program actually have degrees in psychology or social pedagogy and can help.
How long will the project last?
The University of Leipzig is evaluating the pilot project. According to the first data, three-quarters of the principals of schools that took part in the program say that the mental health trainers are very well received by the students. 90 percent of the participants in the project want it to continue, Julian Schmitz, who led the study, told ARD. "These topics - mental health, resilience, dealing with stress - are exactly the issues that young people are excited about," commented Schmitz. Especially in view of the many crises currently affecting the youth. It can be said that "the program is off to a good start and well received".
Now, however, everything depends on the funding - it is settled until the summer of 2025, and everything beyond that period must go through the budget committee again.
Mental health educator Schramm knows all too well that it takes a lot of time and energy to earn the trust of students and school leaders. That is why he wants the project to last at least between three and five years. The need seems great: according to recent studies, at least one in five young people have mental health problems.
Author: Daniel Frevel (ARD)