2023-10-06 18:06:39
“Strengthening mental health of young people”
Vienna (OTS) – The Vienna Education Festival came to an end this afternoon for around 500 participants. The aim of the event was to develop topics to improve education in Vienna.
Discussion on adolescent mental health
In parallel to workshops and lectures, a panel discussion on the topic of “Strengthening the mental health of young people” took place later in the afternoon. Manuela Smertnik, head of the Vienna Youth Centers Association, Ewald Lochner, coordinator for psychiatry, addiction and drug issues for the city of Vienna, Golli Marboe, initiator of the Mental Health Days, Franziska Rumpf, head of the school nurses and Frederik Witjes, Vienna state school representative, spoke on the topic .
Among other things, questions were discussed about the competence of teachers, who, according to Witjes, cannot be expected “to all be trained psychologists.” Nevertheless, there is a need to raise awareness of the topic because there is a great need among the students. Ewald Lochner also saw society as responsible. One must try to “put more focus on mental health in society”. The key is prevention and you also have to “change the system”. There is a need for “recognition and more positive spaces for young people,” said Smertnik. Franziska Rumpf talked about her experience at schools: “Educators are looking for help just like the students.” The school nurses could provide relief and mediation. Ewald Lochner pointed out that prevention and early detection would also “make visible and uncover a greater need for psychological help”. Franziska Rumpf noted that “mental illnesses must be removed from taboos” because many young people do not dare to discuss certain topics. Manuela Smertnik said that one must “create the framework so that young people have the courage to discuss their problems. This often happens in youth centers, but the school “reaches everyone”. Online help services are also good, but the connection to real life would be lost. Existing structures would have to be expanded sustainably.
Following the panel discussion, short summaries of over 30 workshops and roundtable discussions were presented. At the end, Vice Mayor and City Councilor for Education Christoph Wiederkehr, who was the patron of the festival, thanked the participants for their ideas: “I was able to get to know a lot of new things and am proud of the comprehensive offerings there are in Vienna. We have to develop them further and let them grow, but the basic requirements for this are there.” (Conclusion) wei
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