Project for dealing with psychologically burdened students - Germany’s Schools Struggle as Child Mental Health Crisis Deepens
Mental health struggles among children and teenagers are disrupting school routines across Germany. Teachers and staff face growing challenges as anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorders, and other mental health conditions lead to absenteeism and classroom difficulties. Yet, without a unified national approach, schools often lack clear procedures for support.
A new initiative in Saxony is attempting to address these gaps. The project brings together regional stakeholders to create a structured system for handling psychological issues in schools. Currently, Germany has no standardized strategy, leaving educators to manage complex situations without consistent guidance.
The first part of the programme, called the Procedure Navigator, offers an online interactive guide. Available through a central website, it helps staff identify and respond to students’ mental health needs. The second component, Knowledge Transfer, focuses on training school leaders and teachers. Workshops will teach them how to apply the guidance in everyday school life. The final module, Transfer Workshop, uses real-case simulations to practise best responses. By working through practical scenarios, educators aim to reinforce effective strategies. The overall goal is to simplify support processes, assign clear responsibilities, and enable early diagnostics—reducing the strain on schools and ensuring students receive timely help.
Without tackling the root causes of mental health challenges, extended interventions can drain resources without lasting impact. The Saxony initiative seeks to provide schools with dependable tools and training. If successful, the model could offer a framework for broader adoption across Germany.
