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1. National strategy(ies)

2. Improving the mental health of young people

National strategy(ies)

The federal government's strategy for promoting children's and youth health also considers the mental and emotional well-being of young people. In this context, the Federal Ministry of Health (Bundesgesundheitsministerium) supports projects aimed at improving the healthcare provision and general state of health of young people. The following projects are examples:

• Pilot study and development of a nationwide system to monitor young people's health (PINOKIJO) – (long-term panel study of young people aged 11 to 13) 
• German Children's Health Update (Kindergesundheit in Deutschland aktuell, KIDA) – Monitoring of children's health during and after the COVID-19 pandemic 
• PSYCH-U-Screening – Evaluation of a screening tool for the early detection of mental health issues during medical checkups for children and adolescents 
• Kidstime Workshops – Pilot project for conducting quality-controlled workshops for the children of parents with mental illness and their families 
• SIDA-ESS – Strategies for integrating evidence-based digital interventions into the treatment of eating disorders 
• DigiBEssst – Digital counselling services for eating disorders: review and development of quality guidelines 
• Innovation in participation and information on mental health conditions in children and adolescents (IPI KiJu); strengthening information and participation 
• AWMF S3(+) Child Protection Guidelines – development of evidence-based guidelines on child abuse, sexual abuse and neglect, incorporating youth services and educational perspectives
• E-learning basic course on child protection in medicine – Development of an online training programme for medical and health professionals

Sicne 2024, the federal government has also been working on an independent strategy called "Mental Health for Young People", which is due to be published in 2026.

Improving the mental health of young people

Funding campaign “Healthy for life”

The aim of this initiative funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (Bundesministerium für Forschung, Technologie und Raumfahrt, BMFTR) is to create a basis so that children and young people remain healthy or recover more quickly. It focuses on child-oriented approaches to preventing and treating chronic diseases and mental problems, health maintenance and prevention concepts for vulnerable people as well as biological and molecular mechanisms that have an effect on health and illness. Research networks cover a broad spectrum of subjects. They are examining ways to improve the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of mental problems and physical disorders, and they are studying the impact of early life events on physical and mental health.

Interministerial working group on children of parents with mental ollness" (Kinder psychisch kranker Eltern, AG KpkE)

The interdepartmental working group on children of parents with mental illness and addictive disorders ("Kinder psychisch- und suchterkrankter Eltern") was established in 2018 and presented its final report with 19 recommendations at the end of 2019. These recommendations have since been incorporated into legislative reforms. Since 2021, for example, Section 20 of Social Code Book VIII (SGB VIII), "Assistance for the Care and Support of Children in Emergency Situations", has facilitated access to support services. Parents with a mental illness can now receive low-threshold assistance in a crisis (for example, through family counselling centres) without having to submit a formal application to the youth welfare office. This amendment is a direct response to recommendations by the AG KpkE. Instead of the working group, an alliance of civil society actors (Bündnis für Kinder psychisch belasteter Eltern) now promotes ongoing improvements in this area.

Bündnis KipsFam – for children from families with mental health or addiction challenges

Bündnis KipsFam is a nationwide network of organisations for child and youth services, health and addiction support systems and academia. Its mission is to better protect and support children from families affected by mental illness or addiction and to improve services both politically and professionally. Building on policy initiatives since 2014 and the recommendations of the AG KpkE (2019), the alliance was formally established in 2024. Since 2025, KipsFam has been operating with project funding and a dedicated office as a coordinated advocacy organisation at federal level.

Information portal about depression “I am everything”

The project “I am everything” (ich bin alles) was developed by the Clinic and Polyclinic for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy at the LMU Clinic Munich (Klinik und Poliklinik für Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie, Psychosomatik und Psychotherapie des LMU Klinikums München) in partnership with the Beisheim Foundation (Beisheim Stiftung). The content of the project’s website on depression has been extensively researched and is based on scientific studies and findings. Information about the treatment of depression is based on the S3 National Disease Management Guideline (S3-Leitlinie) on the treatment of children and young people with depression. Parts of the website are evaluated in scientific evaluation studies to ensure that information is understandable for users and knowledge of the subject is increased.

“Life carries weight – Fighting the slimming craze” initiative

The initiative “Life carries weight – Fighting the slimming craze” (Leben hat Gewicht – gemeinsam gegen den Schlankheitswahn) was launched in December 2007. Its aim was to raise awareness about the subject of eating disorders and to encourage young people to question beauty standards and develop a positive sense of self-worth. A panel of experts made up of representatives of the relevant institutions and expert associations supported the project from the beginning. "Life carries weight" is no longer active as an independent campaign today, however its goals are now being pursued through permanent structures. For example, the Federal Institute of Public Health (Bundesinstitut für Öffentliche Gesundheit, BIÖG) provides comprehensive information and guidance on eating disorders. The official eating disorder information portal offers support services, background information and a nationwide database of counselling centres for affected people, their families and professionals. The federal association for eating disorders (Bundesfachverband Essstörungen) and the "Nummer gegen Kummer" network also continue the work as successors to the initiative. BIÖG continues to develop educational materials for schools, parents and young people to promote a healthy body image and prevent eating disorders.

Research partnerships on behavioural disorders related to violence, neglect and abuse in childhood and adolescence

Sexualised violence against children and young people is a serious problem and one that has been known about for a long time. Cases of physical or mental abuse or the neglect of children and young people are similarly shocking. In 2010, the federal government set up the round table “Child Sexual Abuse in Institutional and Familial Contexts” (Sexueller Kindesmissbrauch in Abhängigkeits- und Machtverhältnissen in privaten und öffentlichen Einrichtungen im familiären Bereich) to better protect children and young people. The support initiative on behavioural disorders related to violence, neglect, and abuse in childhood and adolescence ("Verhaltensstörungen im Zusammenhang mit Gewalt, Vernachlässigung, Misshandlung und Missbrauch in Kindheit und Jugend") and the specifically medical and psychological networks that emerged from it (such as CANSAS, ENHANCE, AMIS) started their work in 2011 and 2012 and have been formally concluded.

• BESTFORCAN
• AMIS II
• Berlin LCS
• CANMANAGE
• ENHANCE
• EMPOWERYOU
• GROWTREAT
• NeMUP-Nord
• ProChild
• RELEASE
• TRANS-GEN
• UBICA II
• @myTabu

Institutionalisation of research on sexualised violence

Research is ongoing, but its focus has shifted and become institutionalised:

• The issue is now being prioritised within the new German Center for Child and Adolescent Health (Deutsches Zentrum für Kinder- und Jugendgesundheit, DZKJ) and the German Center for Mental Health (Deutsches Zentrum für Psychische Gesundheit, DZPG), rather than in isolated networks.
• Since 2024/25, the new research centre on sexual violence against children and adolescents (Zentrum für Forschung zu sexueller Gewalt an Kindern und Jugendlichen, ZEFSG) has been established at the German Youth Institute (Deutsches Jugendinstitut), funded by the Independent Commissioner for Child Sexual Abuse Issues (Unabhängige Bundesbeauftragte gegen sexuellen Missbrauch von Kindern und Jugendlichen).