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Psychological consequences of the pandemic: Children are suffering more than ever before!
The Corona period leaves lasting health consequences for children and young people, such as eating disorders and depression.
Psychological consequences of the pandemic: Children are suffering more than ever before!
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant health impact on children and young people in Germany. According to a report by the World Five years after the first lockdown, doctors have observed an alarming increase in eating disorders, depression and anxiety disorders among this age group. A particularly impressive example is 17-year-old Anna, who lost around ten kilograms in a short period of time and struggled with health problems such as hair loss. She was admitted to a child and adolescent psychiatry clinic because of anorexia.
Christine Freitag from the German Society for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (DGKJP) states that eating disorders, depression and anxiety disorders are the most common mental illnesses among those affected. Developmental disorders such as reduced fine motor skills and a reduced ability to speak and concentrate can also be observed. The number of inpatient admissions of young anorexics between the ages of 9 and 19 has risen sharply. In particular, admissions of 9- to 14-year-old girls increased by 42% in 2023 compared to 2019, while the increase for 15- to 19-year-old adolescents was 25%.
Results of the COPSY study
In addition to observations regarding eating disorders, the COPSY study, led by the Child Public Health Research Department at the University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, is conducting a comprehensive analysis of the mental health of children and adolescents in Germany. This study examines the impact of the pandemic and global crises on mental well-being and aims to identify influencing factors and develop recommendations for prevention and intervention approaches, as described in the report by UKE is explained.
Over 1,000 children and young people aged 11 to 17 and 1,500 parents took part in the first online survey from May to June 2020. Topics covered included dealing with crisis situations, school experiences, friendships and psychological problems such as anxiety and depression. This study is continually updated and six follow-up surveys have taken place to date, with the next survey scheduled for fall 2025.