The consequences of the pandemic and other crises are placing a heavy burden on many students. The student union demands more money in exchange for adequate offers of help.

Loneliness, isolation and depression cause problems for many students Photo: imago

SEDAN epd | The German Student Union is asking for more money for psychological counseling services for students. “We would need ten million euros over the next four years to make more psychological counseling possible in the student unions,” the organization's president, Matthias Anbuhl, told the Bavarian media group's newspapers on Friday.

Young university students continue to be strongly influenced by the coronavirus pandemic and its consequences. Many students have never really gotten to know classical student life. “Now that it would be possible again, they are having a hard time,” says Anbuhl.

The demand for psychosocial counseling has increased significantly and the topics have also changed. “It used to be about college topics like test anxiety and time management. Nowadays, issues such as loneliness play an important role, isolation, depressed moods and depression, the question of the meaning of studying and even suicidal intentions are a problem,” said Anbuhl.

Student unions have very few resources to really meet demand. “Before we had wait times of two weeks. Nowadays it usually takes six to eight weeks before counseling is possible,” said the president of the student union board. This is unacceptable, especially in acute psychological emergencies.