NDR's 2026 Charity Drive Targets Youth Mental Health in Northern Germany
Hamburg – September 08, 2026 -- NDR has launched the 16th edition of its annual charity campaign "Hand in Hand für Norddeutschland," this year devoted entirely to mental health among children and teenagers under the motto "MENTAL. STARK. FÜRS LEBEN."
The broadcaster is partnering with the six northern German state associations of the German Red Cross, chaired by the Hamburg chapter, alongside the nationwide Aktionsbündnis Seelische Gesundheit (ABSG). The ABSG alone coordinates more than 100 network partners across northern Germany focused on psychological wellbeing.
One in five children in Germany lives with a psychiatric disorder
Citing figures from Germany's Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, NDR notes that roughly a fifth of all children and adolescents in the country are affected by a mental health condition. Anxiety disorders, ADHD, depression, and learning, eating or addiction disorders rank among the most common diagnoses.