Shortage of therapy places for young 'system troublemakers' - Germany’s psychiatric hospitals face dire shortage of secure youth placements
Germany's child and adolescent psychiatric hospitals face a critical shortage of long-term clinical placements, with a severe lack of secure residential spots for minors with extreme behavioural issues. The SPD has urged for increased capacity, but the Justice Ministry has clarified that the responsibility lies with local municipalities.
The issue is most acute for minors aged 12 and above, including those struggling with substance abuse, autism, chronic school refusal, and behavioural disorders linked to sexualised violence. Nine federal states have no secure residential spots, and four states have only one facility with limited capacity.
While North Rhine-Westphalia, Baden-Württemberg, and Bavaria maintain a significant number of secure residential spots, the shortage is still pronounced. North Rhine-Westphalia has 66 such spots, excluding attached therapy placements. The search for secure residential places in youth welfare institutions in other states remains challenging, with no specific current data available except for these three states.
The lack of long-term clinical placements and secure residential spots for troubled minors is a pressing issue in Germany. The SPD's call for expanded capacity highlights the urgency of the situation, but the responsibility for addressing this shortage lies with local municipalities.
