Mental health strategy for young people not without their expertise!

This is clear from the answer to a minor question from the Bündnis 90/Die Grünen parliamentary group in the Bundestag¹ This is clear from the answer. However, it remains unclear in what form young people and their interest groups are to be involved in the process.

The federal government has announced that the strategy will focus on the prevention and early detection of mental illness - including through education, low-threshold counselling services for parents and further training for educational professionals. The aim is also to better dovetail the areas of education, youth welfare and health. She fails to provide a concrete answer as to how the expertise of young people - represented by the Federal Youth Council - will be included in the development of the strategy.

"It is unacceptable that, once again, a strategy is being discussed behind closed doors and without the expertise of those it directly affects," criticised Wendelin Haag, Chairman of the Federal Youth Council.

With its position "Strengthening the mental health of young people in times of crisis" which must be taken into account when designing the strategy. The government, parliament and administration are called upon to include these and to seek dialogue with the structures of young people.

"In its response, the Federal Government itself emphasises that the participation of children and young people is a central concern and makes a significant contribution to strengthening democracy. The Bundesjugendring expects that this claim will now also be honoured in the mental health strategy," says Haag.

1https://dserver.bundestag.de/btd/21 /018/2101837.pdf