Prevention perspective: mental health of schoolchildren in Germany

Background. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the learning and health of children and adolescents. The aim of this paper is to examine school students' mental health problems, family burden, and support needs during the pandemic depending on the type of school. Approaches to school-based prevention and health promotion are discussed.Methods. Findings are based on data from the population-based COPSY study (T1: 05/2020 - T4: 02/2022) and the BELLA study (T0, pre-pandemic comparison). Approximately 1600 families with children aged 7 to 19 years were surveyed at each measurement point (T). Mental health problems were assessed using the SDQ, while family burden and support needs were captured with individual items in the parent report.Results. Mental health problems increased among students in all school types at the beginning of the pandemic and have stabilized at a high level. Elementary school students are particularly affected (increase from 16.9% pre-pandemic to 40.0% at T2), especially in behavioral problems (11.7% to 24.6%) and hyperactivity (13.9% to 34.0%). Secondary school students also show higher levels of mental health problems (21.4% to 30.4%). Pandemic-related burden is consistently high, as is the need for family support received from schools/teachers and experts.Discussion. There is a high need for mental health promotion and prevention measures in the school setting. These should start at primary school age in the sense of a "whole school approach " at different levels and include external stakeholders. In addition, binding legal requirements are needed in all federal states to create framework conditions and structures for school-based health promotion and prevention, including access to necessary resources.