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Knowledge

Mental Health

What is it – and why does it matter?

“There is no health without mental health.”

WHO

Just as important as physical health

Mental health is just as important as physical health. It shapes how we think, feel and act, how we build relationships and how we deal with challenges.

Being mentally healthy does not mean being happy or confident all the time. Doubt, stress, fear and sadness are part of life. What matters is how we deal with them and whether we can recover from them.

Train your body
Train your mind
For the body it goes without saying. For the mind it can, too.

Adolescence

A formative time – and a great opportunity

In the early years of life, body, brain, identity and relationships are all developing. At the same time, demands from school, family, friends and social media keep growing. Worries about the future and the climate, global crises and economic uncertainty can add further pressure and reinforce the feeling that one's own future is hard to plan.

Many mental illnesses begin in this phase of life – which is exactly why early prevention can achieve so much.

Three facts that show why action matters

1 in 7

Globally, around one in seven adolescents aged 10 to 19 experiences a mental disorder.

WHO

14.5 years

The peak age of onset across all mental disorders is estimated at 14.5 years.

OECD

1 in 5

In Germany, around a fifth of children and adolescents report mental strain and reduced quality of life.

UKE / COPSY

Everyday challenges

Almost everyone knows these

Almost every young person meets these topics at some point:

  • Stress

    When demands feel bigger than your own strength.

  • Self-doubt

    The inner voice asking: am I good enough?

  • Anxiety

    An alarm system that is sometimes louder than it needs to be.

  • Sadness

    A feeling that shows something matters to us.

  • Loneliness

    Feeling alone – even in the middle of others.

  • Pressure to perform

    The feeling of always having to deliver – at school, in sport, online.

  • Bullying

    Repeated exclusion or put-downs – offline and online.

  • Body image

    How we see our body – often compared with others.

This list is not exhaustive – mental challenges are as varied as the people who experience them.

The good news

Mental strength can be built

Many young people already have good coping strategies and personal resources. These strengths can be developed further. Knowledge, health literacy, self-efficacy and a supportive environment help to recognise strain early and deal with it better.

Schools are a key place for this: they reach children and adolescents regardless of background and can convey knowledge, strengthen protective factors and enable early support.

This is exactly where the NextGen school modules come in

They make mental health understandable, tangible and fit for everyday life – so young people can make better sense of challenges, apply helpful tools and go their own way mentally stronger.

Our modules are prevention, not therapy. They do not replace psychological counselling or treatment.

Explore the NextGen Program

When it is more

When is it more than a rough patch?

When strain lasts for weeks, clearly limits everyday life – school, sleep, friendships – or can no longer be handled alone, it is time to get support.

Important: seeking support is a sign of strength.

Free and anonymous – for children & young people

Germany116 111Children & teenagers — Nummer gegen KummerAustria147Children & teenagers — Rat auf DrahtSwitzerland147Children & teenagers — Pro Juventute

If life is in immediate danger, call the European emergency number 112 or go to the nearest emergency room.

All helplines for Germany, Austria and Switzerland

Studies and further information

The content and figures shown are based on the studies and expert sources listed below.