The father looks at his teenage son
Parent & Child
18.05.2026 Ifenna Ekezie 1161

Support for Parents of Children with Mental Health Issues

Parents of children with mental health issues face major challenges every day: worry, uncertainty, and the question of how they can support their child in a safe and loving way—without losing sight of themselves.  

In this article, our experts Damaris Roser (psychologist, life coach, and former school psychologist) and Kyra Moon (certified social pedagogue and systemic coach) offer practical tips for everyday life, as well as resources and support options. Their advice is practical, empathetic, and free of stigma. 

What you can expect in this article 

How many children in Germany have mental health issues? 

Mental health disorders among children and adolescents are widespread in Germany: According to data from the Federal Statistical Office, approximately 116,300 inpatient cases involving 10- to 19-year-olds were recorded in 2024 due to mental health conditions. This accounts for just under 19% of all hospitalizations in this age group (Federal Statistical Office, 2024).

Epidemiological estimates suggest that up to 20% of children and adolescents are affected by a mental disorder each year (BPtK / DZPG).  

 Group Coaching: Stronger Together – A Support Group for Parents of Children with Mental Health Challenges 

Our group coaching provides a safe, structured environment for sharing experiences with others in similar situations, offering professional guidance and mutual support. Through these shared discussions, participants gain clarity, find relief, and discover new ways to move forward. 

🗓️ June 24, 2026 – July 15, 2026 / 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM 

Group Coaching: A Support Group for Parents of Children with Mental Health Challenges 

What are the wait times for psychotherapy? 

According to recent reports, the average wait time for outpatient psychotherapy is approximately18 to 26 weeks (about 4–6 months) to secure a therapy slot or an initial consultation—surveys indicate similar wait times for children and adolescents, and in some cases, even longer wait times.

Since the pandemic, professional articles and healthcare studies have reported waiting times that are in some cases significantly longer, noting that they have nearly doubled compared to previous years. 

How do long wait times affect families?   

Long wait times often lead to symptoms worsening, school problems increasing, and parents feeling increasingly overwhelmed. 

"Some families are currently turning to emergency services, while others are trying to bridge the waiting period with school psychological support or low-threshold counseling centers—this helps, but it is no substitute for ongoing therapy." – Damaris Roser, psychologist, former school psychologist, life coach at pme Familienservice

What are the most common mental health disorders in children?        

The most common diagnoses in children and adolescents include: 

  • Anxiety disorders, persistent anxiety, or panic 
  • Depressive disorders, low mood, loss of interest 
  • Hyperkinetic disorders (ADHD), such as impulsivity, restlessness, and inattention  
  • Behavioral and emotional disorders 

The prevalence of the disease varies with age:  

  • Hyperactivity and behavioral disorders are more common among elementary school-aged children. 
  • Depressive disorders and anxiety disorders become more common during adolescence.  

National reports highlight that young people, in particular, are increasingly suffering from mental health issues. This trend has been observed since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic (UKE, BPtK, DZPG).  

Children with mental health issues may also be eligible for a care level if they have difficulty managing their daily lives. For more information, see the article“Children and Adolescents in Need of Care.” 

How does a child with a mental illness affect the family?    

Possible implications for the family:

  • Emotional burden: Parents report feelings of fear, grief, and intense guilt (“Should I have done more?”).  
  • Chronic worry: Uncertainty about the course of the illness and the risk of relapse can cause long-term stress. 
  • Everyday family life and siblings: less free time, less parental attention for siblings; this can lead to jealousy and conflicts.
  • Work-related stress for parents: absences, decreased productivity, and difficulty keeping appointments.
  • Social isolation and stigma: Many parents feel misunderstood by those around them. 
  • Systemic shortcomings: Long wait times, a lack of coordination between schools, therapists, and youth services, as well as regional shortages of care, exacerbate the burden. 

"Parents often take on additional organizational tasks—scheduling appointments, accompanying children to specialist appointments, and communicating with schools and government agencies. This diverts time and energy away from their relationship and self-care." - Kyra Moon, certified social pedagogue and systemic coach at pme Familienservice

 

How can parents provide concrete support to their child who is struggling with mental health issues? 

“What matters is empathy, structure in daily life, and celebrating small successes. Be proactive in seeking help, such as (school-based) support services, and seek professional evaluation early on,” says Kyra Moon, a certified social pedagogue and systemic coach.

“It’s very important to remember that parents are not therapists. When the stress becomes overwhelming, professional support and treatment are needed. As a parent, be sure to recognize your own limits as well.”  

A professional evaluation helps in making a diagnosis, assessing the severity of the condition, recommending treatment, and conducting a risk assessment. 

Who conducts the medical evaluation? 

  • Pediatrician/Family Physician: Initial evaluation, referral, ruling out physical causes 
  • Child and adolescent psychiatrists: medical diagnosis, assessment of medication, and, if necessary, decisions regarding inpatient treatment 
  • Child and Adolescent Psychotherapists: Psychological Assessment Methods, Developmental and Behavioral Diagnostics 
  • Social-Psychiatric Services / Multidisciplinary Teams (e.g., Child Welfare Services, Family Support Services): Assessment of social and psychosocial circumstances

6 Tips for Parents on How to Manage Everyday Life

1. Set priorities: Taking small, realistic steps helps prevent feeling overwhelmed.  

2. Structure and routines in the daily schedule give children a sense of security.  

3. Delegate and accept help: Accepting support from family, friends, or professional services is not a sign of weakness, but an important resource. 

4. Setting boundaries helps prevent burnout.  

5. Documentation: Putting appointments, agreements, and reports in writing makes it easier to communicate with the school and therapists. 

6. Self-care is essential: take care of your own health and seek out connections with others. 

Well advised with pme parent counseling 

Our parent counselors support parents in all matters from pregnancy to the child's adulthood.   

Personal and confidential: We are there for you online, by phone and on site. You can find more information on the pme parent counseling page. 

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Frequently Asked Questions from Parents of Children with Mental Health Conditions 

How can I tell if my child needs mental health help? 

If changes in mood, sleep, school performance, or behavior persist for several weeks, worsen, or lead to dangerous situations (e.g., self-harm), seek medical or psychological evaluation. 

What should I do in the event of an acute risk of suicide or self-harm? 

In case of immediate danger: Call 911 or contact the nearest emergency room. You can also use crisis hotlines (e.g., telephone counseling services) and stay with the child until help arrives. 

Who can conduct a professional assessment? 

The first points of contact are family doctors and pediatricians; for further assistance, child and adolescent psychiatrists, psychological psychotherapists, or multidisciplinary teams (Youth Welfare Office, Social Psychiatric Service). 

How long is the wait for treatment? 

Recent reports often cite waiting times of about 4–6 months (18–26 weeks), which vary by region and specialty; in some cases, they may be longer. 

What can I do while we wait for a therapy spot? 

Look for low-threshold counseling centers, school psychology services, or psychosocial support programs; take advantage of self-help groups, school support services, and crisis/emergency services to tide you over. 

Does health insurance cover the cost of therapy? 

Psychotherapy services and child and adolescent psychiatric treatments are generally covered by both public and private health insurance plans; please contact your insurance provider for specific details. 

When is inpatient treatment necessary? 

In cases of acute danger to the child, severe symptoms, significant functional impairment, or when outpatient services are insufficient, inpatient treatment may be recommended. 

How do I talk to my child about their mental illness? 

Be open, age-appropriate, non-judgmental, and convey a clear message: “You’re not alone, and we’re here to help.” Take their questions seriously, make them feel safe, and praise even small steps. 

zero How ILB makes employees crisis-proof

The ILB building in Potsdam
Leadership & HR
04.11.2024 Isabel Hempel 7210

Strengthening team resilience: How ILB makes employees crisis-proof

In this interview, Kathleen Wiesener, HR Development Officer at the Investitionsbank des Landes Brandenburg (ILB), sheds light on the importance of a strong team spirit and how targeted measures such as coaching, feedback culture and external moderation help to strengthen employees. She explains which strategies ILB uses to create a resilient working environment in which employees receive the support they need to be successful in crisis situations.

What does ILB mean by team resilience and why is it particularly important for the company?

For us, team resilience means the ability of a team to overcome challenges, crises or stressful situations together and emerge stronger. This includes cohesion, mutual support, good communication and trust within the group. A resilient team can adapt quickly to new circumstances and remains productive even in difficult times.

What specific challenges do you face in strengthening the resilience of your teams?

Digitalization presents our employees with considerable adjustment requirements. In addition, there are frequent reorganizations, for example due to new guidelines or efficiency measures. There is also a high workload in many areas due to sickness absences or unfilled expert positions as a result of the shortage of specialists.

How have you anchored the topic of team resilience in your organization?

ILB recognized team cohesion and resilience as key issues many years ago. We offer our employees systematic support from coaches and trainers from the pme Academy. We have succeeded in raising awareness among managers that good team dynamics promote well-being. This leads to fewer conflicts and less sickness-related absences and strengthens the team's performance.

How does the cooperation with the pme Academy work?

The pme Academy supports us in the organization of team meetings and the moderation of larger workshops - ranging from small teams of 4 people to entire areas with 80 participants. We also work together with their conflict moderators. Managers are part of the system and therefore cannot mediate neutrally, which is why external support is very valuable. There are also preventative offers that enable managers and employees to address conflicts and provide feedback.

Unleash the full potential of your managers and teams now.

Our trainers and coaches at the pme Academy support you in difficult transformation and change processes or analyze together how you can make even better use of your team's strengths. 

More information on the seminars and training courses: pme Academy

What effect do these offers have on your employees?

Our employees find these offers very helpful. They appreciate being able to talk about team spirit away from the daily work routine. Since the coronavirus pandemic, many have been working from home, which has led to fewer informal meetings and more social distancing. Hybrid or digital meetings are often very business-oriented, but personal interaction is crucial to strengthen bonds and a sense of community.

How do managers specifically support their teams in difficult times and ensure a resilient working environment?

We promote a sense of unity in a variety of ways in order to strengthen cooperation. Together with the workforce, we have developed guidelines for transparent, constructive communication, a lively feedback culture and cross-divisional collaboration.
Not only managers but also employees are responsible for regularly discussing and reflecting on these values. Regular team events offer the opportunity to maintain personal connections despite hybrid working models and to discuss common interests beyond work content.

What measures do you take to ensure that employees dare to speak openly about challenges or mistakes?

Dealing constructively with mistakes and challenges is firmly anchored in our vision of a learning organization. We promote transparency and encourage our managers to support their employees and adopt a solution-oriented approach instead of looking for someone to blame.

How does this work in practice? Are there tools and techniques for systematically talking about setbacks and mistakes?

We systematically integrate the topic of feedback into our annual appraisals and thus repeatedly raise awareness of its importance. There have also been campaigns on how to give constructive feedback, with newsletters, postcard campaigns and training measures.

What programs, training or resources do you offer to continuously promote the resilience of teams and individuals?

In addition to various communication training courses, such as conflict management, we offer teams the opportunity to call in external mediators or moderators for team building in times of crisis. The pme Familienservice is an important partner here.
In addition, all managers have the opportunity to choose a coach to support them in challenging situations. In day-to-day work, it's often all about the "what" and less about the "how". When a team is reassembled or a new manager is appointed, we support the process with targeted guidance.

How do you ensure that employees are not overwhelmed in stressful phases and remain productive?

Stress management is a key issue that we support through training for both our employees and managers. It is an essential part of management development so that they can protect themselves and their teams from overload and manage crises in a targeted manner. We also offer social counseling and practical support in difficult private and professional situations via an external partner.

We are currently experiencing a very strong polarization in society. Is this also noticeable in your teams? Are the conflicts growing?

My perception is that we are very reluctant to talk about politics, possibly to avoid conflict. I can only speak for my team here: It is very important to us to treat each other with respect, and that includes respecting different opinions. One example was the vaccination debate during the coronavirus pandemic, where there were both supporters and opponents. I experienced a lot of tolerance. Good cooperation is important to us and helps us to overcome crises together.