Mental Health - Widower Experience (WX)

We often think of loneliness as an adult problem. We talk about older people who are socially isolated, about people living alone, and about the growing difficulty of maintaining meaningful relationships in an increasingly connected world. And this true and important  – But loneliness can begin much earlier.  And the numbers are difficult to ignore. A recent analysis by Germany’s Competence Network Loneliness (Kompetenznetz Einsamkeit  KNE ) found that around 11.8% of school students in Germany are classified as lonely . That means roughly one in eight children and adolescents . Girls are affected almost twice as often as boys: 14.8% of girls compared with 7.4% of boys . Age also appears to matter. In Germany, loneliness rises during the school years – from 7.7% in fifth grade to 12.6% in seventh grade and 14.4% in ninth grade . So what happens as children grow older? And what role does the environment around them play? By the way ...  A few days ago, I also pu...

Am 10. September ist der Welttag der Suizidprävention . Ein Tag, an dem weltweit darauf aufmerksam gemacht wird, wie wichtig es ist, Krisen früh wahrzunehmen und Suizide zu verhindern. Das mag auf den ersten Blick weit entfernt sein von einem Thema wie Einsamkeit bei Kindern und Jugendlichen. Ich glaube allerdings, dass wir genau diese Verbindung früher betrachten sollten. Denn Prävention beginnt nicht erst in der akuten Krise. Sie beginnt möglicherweise viel früher: bei der Frage, ob ein Kind sich zugehörig fühlt, ob es Menschen hat, mit denen es sprechen kann, ob es in seiner Klasse einen Platz findet und ob jemand bemerkt, wenn es sich zunehmend zurückzieht. Genau deshalb möchte ich den Blick auf ein Thema richten, das lange unterschätzt wurde: Einsamkeit bei Kindern und Jugendlichen. Im Januar 2026 hat das Kompetenznetz Einsamkeit (KNE) eine neue Expertise veröffentlicht, die sich mit diesem Thema beschäftigt. Die Ergebnisse beziehen sich auf Deutschland und zeigen deutlich: Einsa...

Der 23. April rückt ein Thema in den Mittelpunkt, das oft zu spät Aufmerksamkeit erhält: die psychische Gesundheit von Kindern, Jugendlichen und jungen Erwachsenen. Der World Infant, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Day wurde 2022 von internationalen Fachgesellschaften wie der International Association for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Allied Professions  (IACAPAP) ins Leben gerufen – mit dem klaren Anliegen, mentale Gesundheit von Anfang an als selbstverständlichen Bestandteil von Entwicklung, Teilhabe und gesellschaftlicher Verantwortung zu begreifen. Mentale Gesundheit beginnt früh mit jedem Sein Psychische Gesundheit beginnt von Anfang an, entwickelt sich, und wird in Kindheit und Jugend entscheidend geprägt. In diesen Lebensphasen entstehen emotionale Stabilität, soziale Kompetenzen und die Fähigkeit, mit Belastungen umzugehen. Viele psychische Entwicklungen und auch Erkrankungen zeigen sich erstmals bereits in jungen Jahren. Umso wichtiger ist es, früh hinzusehen und ...

Children’s mental health is an essential foundation for their happiness, development, and success. On Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day, we are reminded of the critical need to support the emotional well-being of the youngest among us. Mental health deserves the same care and attention as physical health, yet it often goes overlooked or misunderstood. By open conversations about emotions and resilience within our families and communities, we can empower children to navigate their feelings and the inevitable challenges of life with confidence and strength. Positive mental health is not just about the absence of struggle—it’s about fostering tools for self-esteem, inner resilience, and emotional regulation. For children, receiving encouragement and learning strategies for managing their mental well-being can be transformational. Inspirational quotes offer a simple yet powerful way to communicate these values and lessons. They hold timeless wisdom that transcends age and provide chil...

Blue Ribbon Day is often celebrated within Blue Ribbon Week as a focal point for activities and events dedicated to child abuse awareness. Originating from a grandmother’s heartache over the devastating loss of her grandson to abuse, the blue ribbon symbolically calls for society’s attention to the vulnerabilities children face. The day, therefore, stands as both a memorial and a call to action, urging communities to address the issue and protect children from neglect and harm. Blue Ribbon Week Apr 7th, 2025 - Apr 13th, 2025 Goals of Blue Ribbon Week The primary goal of Blue Ribbon Week is to shine a spotlight on the prevalence and implications of child abuse and neglect. By encouraging conversation and reflection, the initiative aims to: Educate: Inform communities about the forms child abuse can take—physical, emotional, sexual, and neglect—along with the signs and symptoms. Engage: Foster community involvement through events and activities, promoting a collective responsibility towa...

International Children's Day is a day focused on advocating for the rights, education, and welfare of the children across the globe. Celebrated every first of June, it emphasizes the importance of securing a good future for the children who are considered to be the world's hope. The day is important as it highlights the issues related to child labor, violence against children, exploitation, and the need for proper education and health facilities. It highlights the urgent actions needed to protect children and ensure their rights are protected and upheld. It also celebrates children and their contribution to the betterment of society. The day was first declared by the World Conference for the Well-being of Children in 1925. It encourages people, organizations, and governments all over the world to pay special attention to the issues affecting children, take action to alleviate their suffering, and focus on the importance of developing children's welfare. Children Rights This...

Childhood Depression Awareness Day, observed on May 7 each year. It aims to bring attention to the often-overlooked issue of depression in children, highlighting the importance of understanding and addressing their mental health needs​. Often, we visualize childhood as a time filled with laughter, vitality, and a never-ending whirl of fun and joy. Heartbreakingly though, the dark shadow of childhood depression haunts this picture, a tragic reality we can no longer afford to ignore. This severe matter necessitates heartfelt conversations among parents, caregivers, and educators. Leading to many other health disorders, depression addictively claws its way into lives across all age brackets. The World Health Organization has recognised depression as a sweeping health crisis. However, its devastating effects on children could be alarmingly aggressive, mercilessly putting the futures of our precious boys and girls on the line. Today -  It's a day where we all must passionately participa...

I've been working on this article for a long time - and I'm still not finished - but due to current local events, I'm publishing the current state of it.  After a traumatic event, it is possible to help children feel safe with comfort, support, and assurance. We can help them deal with their fears, grief, and help them recover in a healthy way.  I have put together the following tips and recommendations based on studies and support from psychiatrists, psychologists, and mental health experts who specialize in crisis situations. Whenever possible, I tried to provide simple tips on what to expect, what to do, and what to look out for. IMPORTANT - If you, or children or teenagers need support for their mental health, do not hesitate to contact a doctor or another health care provider for help or a recommendation.  1. Tips to assist children after the event  Make the child feel safe and secure. This includes physical closeness - all children, from toddlers to teenagers, ...

Whether we like it or not one of the only sure inevitable things in life is that we are all going die and our beloved ones. We don’t talk about death. We talk about sex, drugs and money. We teach our children about these subjects but we don’t talk about death and dying. We need to talk to our young about death and dying and we need to talk among ourselves openly about grieving. Pets are a good start whether they because they passed away peacefully caused by age - but as well when assisted by a doctor. We need to discuss how we feel about their death and encourage our children to do the same.  And adults don't like to talk to children about dying and death if it gets to suicide. Many believe that keeping suicide quiet protects children. But this is not the case.  By the way - I did so and thought so as well a long time, but especially by my latest explorations of studies and courses and seminars I joined - I were disabused. This is not the case - because children are ...

Today a colleague made me aware on this young lady. Not sure how I missed this video when it went viral a years ago but it touched me - should reach all of us - that's why I like to share it today, in case anyone missed it as well - take 7 minutes to listen and learn. Molly Wright took the TED Talk stage to gave a brilliant talk. She stressed and focused attention on the nature of learning, the 'qualities' of play for life. it's so brilliant how she brings the undeniable facts and benefits to light and named it crystal clear. I really love how she highlighted the benefits of play on lifelong learning, behavior and well-being, sharing effective strategies to help all kids thrive by the age of five.  When Molly Wright gave that talk in 2021, she was just seven years old. But that didn't stop her from talking, from speaking open and honestly, touching the people and reaching their / our minds and hearts.  Let us ensure or do our parts to ensure that all kids have the b...