Strain on Psychosocial Wellbeing Rising for Young Families, According to NZFH Study

The National Center for Early Support (NCEH), a collaboration between the Federal Institute for Public Health (BIÖG) and the German Youth Institute e. V. (DJI), has announced the results of the ToF delivery clinic monitoring 2024. This repeat survey, which also assessed the burdens of patients and families in 2017, reveals significant improvements in various areas.

The establishment of guidance services in delivery clinics has been a game-changer. According to 80% of the clinic staff, this initiative has significantly improved the referral of burdened families to offers of support. The satisfaction of employees and expectant parents has also seen a notable increase due to the guidance service.

The ToF delivery clinic monitoring 2024, a nationwide survey of delivery stations with more than 300 births, saw a response rate of 48 percent (N = 256). The results show that 15% of families had a child's healthy development endangered due to burdens in 2024, almost twice as much as in 2017 (8%).

Communication difficulties due to insufficient German language skills have also increased, rising from 17% in 2017 to 25% in 2024. Similarly, signs of mental illness in parents have seen a rise, with 11% of parents showing signs in 2024, up from 8% in 2017.

However, it's important to note that more than two-thirds of delivery clinics in Germany have set up a guidance service. The NCEH, funded by the Federal Ministry of Education, Family, Seniors, Women and Youth (BMBFSFJ), supports the cooperation of delivery clinics and early support networks with quality criteria for the establishment and further development of guidance services.

The current results of the ToF delivery clinic monitoring will be presented by the NCEH together with the German Hospital Institute at an online conference on September 9. Registration for the conference is possible until September 5, and participation is free. For more information about the ToF delivery clinic monitoring 2024, visit www.earlysupport.de/tof-delivery-2024-results and [www.parenting.info].

Since 2007, the NCEH has been supporting professional practice in early identification of family stressors and resources, providing quality-assured, needs-based offers, and fostering networking among different professional groups. The NCEH was formerly carried by the German Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (Bundesministerium für Arbeit und Soziales). As of February 13, 2025, the Federal Center for Health Education (BZgA) is now the Federal Institute for Public Health (BIÖG), a specialized authority in the business area of the Federal Ministry of Health.