The opening of the new Public Child Mental Health Competence Center on September 22 in Berlin was held under the motto Mental Health of Children and Adolescents in a Digital World. Experts from science, politics, practice, and society discussed the opportunities and challenges associated with the digital lives of young people.
Research findings, practical experience, and socio-political impetus
The Competence Center is a joint initiative of Ulm University Hospital (Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics, and Psychotherapy) and the Central Institute for Mental Health (Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy). The center aims to bring together research findings, practical experience, and socio-political initiatives in order to strengthen the prevention and treatment of mental illness in children and adolescents in a digital world in the long term.
Personal development in a digital world
“The real life and upbringing of children and young people in Germany takes place in a digital world. We are seeing that digital media offer children and young people opportunities for social participation and education, but also pose considerable risks to their mental health,” emphasizes Prof. Dr. Jörg M. Fegert, center director at the Ulm site. “With the Competence Center, we are creating a place where knowledge is pooled, concrete perspectives for action are developed, and the various stakeholders are called upon to take action.”
“Today, the digital world is a central space in which children and young people develop their identity. They try out roles, seek orientation, and shape their sense of belonging,” explains Prof. Dr. Dr. Tobias Banaschewski, Center Director in Mannheim. “These developmental tasks in particular are closely linked to issues of mental health. With the competence center, we want to use scientific evidence to show how digital experiences can be successful so that young people are strengthened in their personality development, potential stressors are cushioned at an early stage, and prevention approaches are specifically promoted.”
Broad dialogue initiated
Mareike Lotte Wulf, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, and Kerstin Claus, Independent Federal Commissioner for Child and Youth Protection, opened the event with a welcome address. This was followed by specialist presentations on topics such as cyberbullying, identity development in digital contexts, and prevention strategies in healthcare and in the digital world itself. In the evening, a panel discussion with representatives from medicine, research, health insurance companies, civil society, NGOs, and youth organizations was on the agenda.
The Competence Center for Public Child Mental Health is funded by the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Science, Research, and the Arts.