On the occasion of the International Day of Youth on August 12th, the Austrian Federal Association for Psychotherapy (ÖBVP) draws attention to the increasing psychological stress of young people and demands targeted measures for sustainable support for their mental health.
Psychological stress is increasing – youth study and advice on wire show urgent need for action
The current Ö3 youth study 2024, in which around 30,000 young people took part in Austria, clearly shows that young people are very mentally stressed. Almost everyone: R second states that they are dissatisfied with their own mental health. School pressure, future fears and social uncertainties are among the most common stress factors. The increased desire for professional support is particularly striking – a clear signal for acute need for low -threshold psychotherapeutic offers.
The latest figures from Council on Wire, the emergency call, advisory and information center for children, adolescents and their caregivers in Austria, also underline the psychological stress of young people: In 2024 alone, around 4,000 consultations on mental illnesses and problems took place- this corresponds to over 8 % of all conversations. Young people particularly often sought support in topics such as fear, depression, family conflicts, as well as bullying and psychological violence that increased by 17 % compared to the previous year. Problematic online experiences such as sex management also increased significantly-a clear signal for the growing need for professional accompaniment.
“Young people need more safe spaces and professional accompaniment today to orient themselves in a complex world and to grow mentally healthy.
ÖBVP calls for nationwide access to psychotherapy and the expansion of school prevention projects.
Through psychotherapeutic accompaniment, pupils are to be sensitized, supported and professionally accompanied inside, parents and teachers. The ÖBVP project Fit4school is a positive example of this.
“We experience every day how important it is that mental health is visible, accessible and seriously taken. This requires a protected space in which children and adolescents get help at an early stage – before problems are chronic. What we need is a long -term structural anchoring of such offers in the education system,” explains Béa Pall, head of the specialist department for infants, adolescent psychotherapy in ÖBVP.
The ÖBVP therefore demands:
· Leading access to free psychotherapeutic care for children and adolescents,
· The expansion of psychotherapeutic prevention in schools
· Leading implementation of the “Mental Health Days” in schools
· As well as the integration of psychotherapists: inside in the school of living space
“Mental health must not be a privilege. Young people in particular need our special attention and low -threshold, professional offers to cope with crises and develop their potential,” emphasizes Haid.