Successful symposium on the mental health of children and young people in Jena

On 19 September 2024, the symposium on the mental health of children and young people organized by the Ernst Abbe University of Applied Sciences and the Jena Youth Welfare Office took place in Jena. With 100 participants, the event was a great success and met with great interest, meaning that not all registrations could be considered. The high level of interest shows how central the topic of mental health has become in educational work.

The event kicked off with a welcome address from Jena's Lord Mayor Dr. Thomas Nitzsche. In his speech, he emphasized the responsibility of politicians to promote measures for the early detection of mental health problems. "We must support parents in accompanying their children as they grow up and strengthen the emotional skills of young people," said Nitzsche. These skills are of central importance in order to be able to cope with the many challenges of today - from school stress to digital influence.

Expert input and scientific findings

A highlight of the symposium was the presentation by Prof. Dr. Kristin Mitte, Vice President of the Ernst Abbe University of Applied Sciences Jena. She spoke on the topic "From tantrums to moments of happiness: Emotion regulation in children and young people in the digital age". Prof. Mitte impressively demonstrated how the digital environment influences the emotional development of children. She emphasized that children and young people today need more support than ever to regulate their emotions appropriately. This is one of the basic prerequisites for mental health and resilient behavior in modern society. "Emotional skills must be promoted and understood as an integral part of upbringing and education," said Prof. Mitte.

This was followed in the afternoon by a presentation by Dr. Bán and Dr. Beyermann from the Jena Health Service, who took an in-depth look at the factors that influence the mental health of children and young people as they grow up. Data from school examinations show an increase in mental health problems, obesity and media consumption. Scientific studies have established a clear link between mental health problems in children and young people and the intensive use of smartphones and the resulting sensory overload. Action must be taken here. Dr. Bán agreed with the Leopoldina's call for the promotion of children and young people's self-regulation skills to become another key aspect of the German education system.

Focus on networking and exchange

In addition to the specialist presentations, the focus was on networking and exchange between the participants. In several pitches, practical projects from the fields of kindergarten, school, youth welfare, inclusion and family work were presented. These provided inspiration and concrete approaches on how mental health prevention programs can be effectively integrated into the everyday lives of children and young people. The participants used the breaks and get-together phases to exchange ideas about new approaches and collaborations.

The symposium provided an important forum for sharing new scientific findings and presenting concrete offers and opportunities for cooperation. The high level of participation made it clear how seriously the topic of children and young people's mental health is taken.

Head of the Youth and Education Department, Christine Wolfer, is optimistic that there will be another Youth Welfare Office specialist day in 2025: "The central aim of our efforts remains to enable children and young people in Jena to grow up in a healthy and mentally stable environment. Once again, we have seen how important networkingand cooperation between the various stakeholders in the youth sector is. The annual symposium shows us what we have achieved here and where we need to focus our work in the future."