The results paint a worrying picture of the care situation. Many young people doubt that their problems are ‘bad enough’ to warrant psychotherapy. Added to this is the feeling that they must deal with their own problems alone and the shame associated with mental health issues.
The study identifies several risk groups that report unmet needs for help more frequently. These include people with symptoms of depression or anxiety, young adults with a reduced quality of life due to mental health issues, people with low subjective social status, and people with poor health literacy; women were also more than twice as likely to be affected as men. It is particularly problematic that those who need support most urgently often do not seek it.
Regional care density plays a minor role
Surprisingly, regional factors such as the density of psychotherapists or the district's socioeconomic conditions have no significant influence on service use. This suggests that structural measures, such as the expansion of therapy places alone, are insufficient.
The authors of the study recommend a change of strategy in prevention work. Young adults should be better supported in recognising and classifying mental stress. Negative attitudes towards psychotherapeutic help must be actively dismantled. Access to care should also be simplified and made better known. Prevention strategies should account for the distinct needs of women and men.
The JEPSY study is based on data from former participants in the KiGGS study.
Publication: Birgel V, Gellert P, Hölling H, Kuhnert R, Michalski N, Rapp M, et al. Barriers to the use of psychotherapeutic care by young adults: individual and regional influencing factors. Journal of Health Monitoring. 2025;10(4):e13532. doi: 10.25646/13532
