German states push for expanded school mental‑health services

In Bremen, CDU parliamentary group leader Dr. Wiebke Winter warned that roughly one‑third of children and adolescents are psychologically burdened, citing the COPSY study and the German School Barometer. The party’s proposal calls for doubling the 17 school‑psychologist posts to at least 34, qualifying teachers as first‑response helpers, strengthening crisis teams, extending school social work to all secondary schools, and piloting a “happiness lesson” programme to build resilience and social skills.

In Thuringia, the state parents’ association highlighted a surge in anxiety disorders, depression and eating disorders among youth and demanded permanent, fully funded school social work and regular school‑psychology services. It also called for more therapy places, curriculum adjustments to reduce performance pressure, and low‑threshold counselling for students and families.

Both groups stress that mental health must become central to education policy, urging rapid expansion of preventive and support structures in schools.