Mental health in focus: Younger people suffer more than older people!

Mental health in focus: Younger people suffer more than older people!

The mental health of young people has deteriorated significantly during the corona pandemic, according to a current study by the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin). This study, reported by the Funke media group, finds that the impact of the pandemic on young people is more serious than the problems caused by the global financial crisis between 2008 and 2010. While in 2022 people under 50 had poorer mental health than their older counterparts, this was not the case after the financial crisis, when all age groups recovered equally. “The younger, the stronger” is the deterioration, reported DIW health economist Daniel Graeber.

Mental illnesses on the rise

The underlying concerns triggered by crises such as the coronavirus pandemic or the war in Ukraine place a great burden on working people. The resulting economic uncertainties and ongoing stressors can have a significant impact on mental health. Mental illnesses are constantly increasing in Germany; According to a report by the DAK health insurance company, days of absence due to mental illness increased by 52 percent in 2023 compared to 2013, with an average of 323 days of absence per 100 employees.

Additional data provided by the Statista website shows that 70 percent of people who exercise regularly rate their health as good or very good. These statistics underscore the importance of taking preventive action against mental illness. With regard to increasing health awareness - in 2024, around 24.3 million Germans said they were interested in healthy eating - it is clear that individual efforts are necessary to improve one's own well-being. The WHO defines health not only as the absence of disease, but as a state of complete physical, psychological and social well-being, which underlines the relevance of this topic.