Mental illness leads child hospitalisations in Germany

Mental illness and behavioural disorders were the leading cause of hospitalisation among children and adolescents aged 10 to 19 in 2024. According to data from Germany’s Federal Statistical Office, they accounted for almost a fifth of all admissions in this age group, at 18.9 per cent, or 615,300 cases.

More than 116,000 cases were recorded. Compared with 2023, the figure represents an increase of 3.4 per cent. The number of hospital admissions among young people for mental health problems has been rising for many years and is now more than a third higher than in 2004.

Depression is the most common diagnosis among children and adolescents, accounting for almost a third of admissions at 29.1 per cent. It is followed by stress reactions and adjustment disorders at 10.1 per cent, alcohol-related conditions at 8.5 per cent and eating disorders at 6.3 per cent.

Depression also dominates across all age groups, accounting for around a quarter of hospital admissions for mental illness. Alcohol-related conditions rank second, followed by schizophrenia.

The data also show that mental illness is becoming an increasingly significant cause of hospitalisation across the population, with the sharpest rise observed among young people.

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