One school psychologist for 5,000 students in German state amid rising distress

In Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany, the ratio of school psychologists to students remains critically low, with one psychologist serving roughly 5,000 students. This figure has not improved despite a documented increase in demand for mental health support in schools, and no immediate improvement is foreseen due to the state's tight budget.

This situation is highlighted in the state's response to an inquiry from the SPD party. SPD representative Dilek Engin pointed to concerning trends identified in the "Deutsches Schulbarometer" (German School Barometer). A representative survey revealed that one in four children reported psychological distress last year, a significant rise from approximately one in five in 2024. For families with very low incomes, this figure exceeded 31 percent.

Teachers are also feeling the strain. A separate study for the School Barometer found that 46 percent of surveyed educators identified student behavior as their biggest professional burden, compared to 35 percent two years prior. In response to the SPD's question about expanding school psychological services, State Minister Dorothee Feller (CDU) stated that the state is keeping the number of school psychologists constant despite budget challenges.

Currently, Nordrhein-Westfalen has 464 allocated positions for school psychologists serving its 2.5 million students. These positions are split between state (289) and municipal (175) services. The number of vacant positions has reportedly decreased from around 64 in the 2022/23 school year to 20 recently.

“

The state maintains – despite the known budget situation – the number of school psychologists across the state constant.