Corona pandemic: Depression among young people is increasing – “One bubble after the other is bursting”

Created: 01/26/2022, 09:07

By: Alexandra Anderka

Sad young people: Since the pandemic, significantly more young people have been suffering from psychosomatic illnesses - also in the district.

Cell phones are a big escape destination School isn't fun these days Get out in the fresh air © Shutterstock

The Corona crisis has fatal effects on adolescents.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, young people have increasingly struggled with depression.

A therapist has a tip for parents.

Erding - "Unfortunately, we will not be able to accept any more patients in the foreseeable future, since all therapy places are occupied and our waiting list is full." Parents and young people are currently hearing this when they call Monika Schwoshuber, a psychotherapist for children and young people in Erding.

"In addition, there are two to three inquiries by e-mail every day," she says.

Erding: More young people are suffering from depression during the corona pandemic - therapy places are full

According to the current youth report by the DAK health insurance company, significantly more young people fell ill with depression during the corona pandemic.

Girls are affected three times as often as boys.

The study also revealed that mental disorders and referrals to child and adolescent psychiatry have increased noticeably since the pandemic began.

Mental illnesses among young people are also increasing in the district of Erding

School psychologists, special education teachers and psychotherapists in Erding paint an almost identical picture for the district.

Anne Hartling, school psychologist and teacher at the Heilig Blut secondary school for girls in Erding, even speaks of exploding numbers: "We used to have two to four girls a year with mental illnesses, now the number has tripled." The severity of the illnesses is striking.

"Corona cannot create anything, but amplify and trigger it"

One thing is clear for the expert: the disposition must be created.

"Corona cannot create anything, but amplify and trigger it," says Hartling.

Puberty is a very vulnerable phase.

"Young people have to try things out, find their identity, get over their first broken heart."

Andrea Gmach, social worker at the Korbinian-Aigner-Gymnasium, adds: "Actually, during puberty, detachment from parents, parties and falling in love are on the agenda, instead young people are doomed to spend most of their time at home in front of the computer and on social media media.”

The cell phone is a great curse

Anne Hartling, school psychologist at the Heilig Blut secondary school for girls

Some felt they were in good hands in their bubbles – the online communities – “there they even get guidance for mental health problems.

Some students come to me straight away with a diagnosis," says Katharina Wendrich, school psychologist at the Anne Frank High School.

Colleague Hartling knows: “The mobile phone is a great curse.

Social media play a large part in the mental health problems of young people.

There are sites that explain to anorexics how to stay as thin as possible.”

(Our Erding newsletter keeps you regularly informed about all the important stories from your region. Register here.)

Corona pandemic, social media, puberty: depression among young people is increasing

"Mobbing is also much easier on social media than having to tell someone to their face that I don't like them," says psychotherapist Schwoshuber.

According to Wendrich, due to the many prohibitions and uncertainties during the pandemic, there can be a loss of control, which in turn leads to social anxiety, depression, eating disorders and self-injury - increasingly with clinical symptoms.

"After the long distance lessons, some students had real difficulties presenting themselves in front of the class," says Wendrich.

Some also struggled with test anxiety.

Girls will be leaving school this school year, not because they lack intelligence, but because they feel overwhelmed by the many insecurities.

Anne Hartling, school psychologist at the Heilig Blut secondary school for girls

Wendrich also observed students who are actually equipped with a healthy self-confidence, how they suddenly start crying.

The feeling of stress is “diffuse” here, but is “of a quality that I didn’t know before the pandemic”.

Problems in school: young people struggle with motivation

Hartling, who is also an English and history teacher and a 10th grade class teacher, makes the same observation.

"Even though these girls are good and healthy, they're struggling and struggling with their motivation," she regrets, adding, "I've never had such an emotionally charged class." She predicts, "There will be girls leaving school this school year , not because of a lack of intelligence, but because they feel overwhelmed by the many uncertainties.”

Many lack motivation, which according to the school psychologists and the special education teacher is not surprising.

The young people could go back to school – which is very important, everyone agrees here too – but it’s not fun at the moment: wearing a mask, constant warnings from the teachers that the rules are observed, and “everything that Makes school nice is gone: no more class trips, no graduation ceremonies, no excursions,” says Hartling, and Gmach adds: “None of this can be made up for either.

One bubble after another bursts.

Young people no longer dare to look forward to something.”

Hartling finds it downright "abnormal" that she doesn't know what to do with those seeking help.

"The child and adolescent psychiatry in Munich will not have places available again until April/May."

School staff overloaded - teachers on the verge of collapse

But the pandemic is not only tugging on the nerves of young people and children, the teaching staff is also on the verge of collapse, and she regularly has desperate parents on the phone.

But they should be strong in the pandemic, an anchor for the young people, says Barbara Huber, managing director of the Brücke association, who has been looking after schools in the district with his social pedagogues for ten years.

"The adults have a role model function," she warns.

“They must provide safety, security and clarity.

We have to tackle it and march through it together with the young people,” she demands.

She is also aware of the needs of the young people.

But: “I resist the doomsday mood.

I'm sure we'll get out of there," she says firmly.

She even hopes “that the majority of young people will emerge stronger from the pandemic, with a new awareness of their lives and the realization that the essentials may lie somewhere else than unlimited freedom”.

Depression in adolescents: therapist has tip for families

Get out into the fresh air, into nature.

Monika Schwoshuber, psychotherapist for children and young people in Erding

Hartling is of the opinion: "We adults have to try to direct our gaze back to something positive." Rituals within the family would have a positive effect.

She strongly advises parents to regulate mobile phone use and "to control it selectively".

Psychotherapist Schwoshuber supports this demand and advises families: “Get out into the fresh air, into nature.” Gmach also believes “that our young people will get out of there again.

Here in the country we have so many resources.

Very few live on the 15th floor on the Mittlerer Ring.” Wendrich recommends to all those affected: “The most important thing is to get help.”

You can read the latest news from Erding here.