Wendelin Haag as an expert on mental health in the Children's Commission
In his opening statement, Haag referred to the position "Strengthening the mental health of young people in times of crisis" adopted by the DBJR General Assembly 2023 and highlighted two key concerns: Firstly, mental stress among young people should not be individualised. They often arise in a complex interplay of different factors, in particular due to social and political conditions. Haag cited the multitude of crises that young people are currently facing at the same time - from the aftermath of the pandemic and an increasingly unstable international order to growing social and ecological inequalities and injustices. Against this backdrop, mental stress is an understandable reaction to unresolved social challenges. At the same time, he emphasised that young people are not an unstable or deficient group, but are actively involved and committed to overcoming these crises, provided they have the opportunity to take part and participate.
Secondly, Haag emphasised that mental health must be understood as a youth policy issue: "A good youth policy must create the framework conditions that young people need to grow up healthy." He called for a closer integration of youth and health policy as well as the consistent involvement of young people and their democratic self-organisations in the federal government's strategy to strengthen their mental health.
Mr Haag paid particular attention to the federal children and youth plan (KJP). Strengthening the KJP would also mean strengthening non-purposeful, self-determined freedom for young people. Peer contacts, confidants, exercise, joy and the opportunity to take on responsibility - all of these are key factors for resilience and can be found in the structures of youth association work. "The good news is that these structures already exist. Now we need to secure and strengthen them," said Haag. In this context, he also referred to the importance of physical meeting places and once again called for an investment programme for youth education centres.
As further concrete measures, Haag named the securing of funding for further psychotherapeutic training, simplified and clearer procedures for the extension of BAföG in the case of psychological stress and the passing of a suicide prevention law. With regard to the supply situation, he emphasised: "Young people are currently waiting an average of 28 weeks for a place in therapy. That is unacceptable. We finally need independent demand planning that reflects the specific needs of young people." This would particularly benefit young people in rural areas, some of whom have to travel long distances to the nearest treatment centre.
When asked how current political debates - such as so-called "lifestyle part-time work" or demands for a general extension of working hours - affect young people, Haag pointed out that such discourses create additional pressure. Young people who are already affected by structural disadvantages, such as poverty or experiences of discrimination, are particularly affected.
The Children's Commission (Kiko) is a sub-committee of the Committee on Education, Family, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth and deals with the interests of children and young people. The Bundesjugendring would like to thank Kiko Chairman Michael Hose (CDU/CSU) and the members of parliament from the SPD, Bündnis 90/Die Grünen and Die Linke for the pleasant and productive exchange in the expert discussion and looks forward to the promised further cooperation on the mental health of young people.