Psychological well being amongst younger Austrians: greater than half battle with depressive signs

As COVID-19 impacts psychological well being of younger Austrians, the federal government spends 13 million euros in a 15-month program to facilitate entry to remedy.

This system “Well being past disaster” will begin on the finish of March 2022 with the target to assist youngsters and younger individuals to deal with psychological well being issues because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The minister of Well being, minister of Schooling and the state secretary of Youth offered the initiative on February 18. The bundle was voted on by the Council of Ministers in July final yr.

“Greater than half of younger Austrians battle with depressive signs, 6 in 10 have consuming problems, 47% endure from a sleep problem, 16% have repeated suicidal ideas,” mentioned Claudia Plakolm, 27 and Austria State Secretary for Youth, at a press convention.

In mild of the state of affairs significantly more durable in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, Austria determined to spend 13 million euros (US$14.6m) to enhance entry to psychological well being remedy for its youth.

This system is devoted to all individuals underneath 21. It’ll additionally assist as much as 7,500 girls and boys significantly pressured by the COVID-19 disaster providing them 15 hours of assist by means of particular person or group psychological well being periods.

There are 1.8 million individuals underneath the age of 21 in Austria in accordance with the newest official knowledge in 2019.

Elements of the funds will go to psychologists and psychotherapists in order that they supply fast and free entry to counseling.

“A drop within the Ocean” of psychological well being points

Numerous psychological healthcare practitioners, like pediatricians, college psychologists, youth welfare companies will act as facilitators and referrers. A hotline can even consult with the suitable counseling and therapy facilities for a free preliminary session.

The purpose is to create a form of one-stop store for all preliminary consultations earlier than the precise remedy. “We take the burden of paperwork off of younger individuals and their households,” mentioned Claudia Plakolm.

Eva-Maria Holzleitner from the Social Democratic Celebration acknowledges it’s “higher late than by no means”. However she additionally asks to “think about if financial assist was paid out solely two years after the beginning of the pandemic”.

The appropriate-wing nationalist Freedom Celebration of Austria spokesperson Michael Schnedlitz considers the “extreme and incorrect” COVID-19 restrictions applied by the federal government made their youngsters sick. He referred to as for all measures associated to the younger to be lifted instantly.

For Yannick Shetty of the New Austria and Liberal Discussion board get together, “psychological well being should not be a one-off funding venture”.

“Easy accessibility to psychological well being companies is definitely an enchancment. However in view of the immense psychological stress that youngsters and younger individuals have suffered in recent times, the measures stay a drop within the ocean,” says Christian Moser, managing director of SOS Kids’s Villages. The non-profit group considers Austria lacks 70,000 healthcare amenities offering psychological well being remedy.

The venture will begin on the finish of March 2022 and can run till the tip of June 2023.

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