Mental health pressures among children and young people in Germany have increased for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a major new study. The findings come from the School Barometer published Wednesday in Stuttgart by the Robert Bosch Foundation. The report reveals that 25 percent of students aged between eight and 17 reported feeling mentally burdened in 2025, up from 21 percent in 2024.
Social background continues to play a decisive role in student wellbeing. Children from low-income families reported significantly higher rates of mental stress, with 31 percent describing psychological burden, 29 percent reporting low levels of wellbeing at school, and 36 percent rating their overall quality of life as poor. At the same time, nearly half of all students surveyed said they feel under significant academic pressure, including having to study for school during weekends.
"Even though most young people in Germany are doing well, the renewed rise in mental health burdens is a warning signal that we cannot ignore," said Anna Gronostaj, education expert at the Robert Bosch Foundation.
Bullying remains a widespread problem in German schools. One third of students aged between 11 and 17 reported being bullied by classmates at least once a month, while one in ten said it happens weekly or even daily. Fourteen-year-olds are disproportionately affected, with 38 percent reporting bullying experiences.
Face-to-face bullying was reported more frequently than cyberbullying, though the two often occur together. On a more positive note, the study's authors highlight that awareness efforts in schools appear to be bearing fruit: four out of five students said they know who to contact if they experience bullying.
The study found that student wellbeing at school is strongly linked to whether pupils feel supported by their teachers, experience academic demands as appropriately challenging, and enjoy a positive classroom community. Children and young people who have confidence in their own academic abilities also reported higher overall wellbeing.
The Robert Bosch Foundation School Barometer has been tracking the situation in German schools through regular representative surveys since 2019. Since 2024, the survey has expanded to include students alongside teachers. For the current study, the polling institute Forsa interviewed approximately 1,500 children and young people between the ages of eight and 17, as well as one parent per child, in May and June 2025.
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