Bundespsychotherapeutenkammer
BPtK
Die Bundespsychotherapeutenkammer, Arbeitsgemeinschaft der 12 Landespsychotherapeutenkammern, ist ein Zusammenschluss der Psychotherapeutenkammern der Bundesländer in der Rechtsform eines nicht eingetragenen Vereins.
ID: 938257051323-80
Lobbying Activity
Response to Action plan against cyberbullying
29 Sept 2025
Action plan against cyberbullying Statement by the Federal Chamber of Psychotherapists in Germany Cyberbullying has become a serious and persistent problem for children and adolescents across Europe in recent years. The second volume of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study by the WHO (2024) revealed that cyberbullying has increased among children and adolescents between 2018 and 2022 notably because of digitalisation. As a result, 12% of ado-lescents report cyberbullying to others and 15% have experienced cyberbullying; the study also shows that cyberbullying is more prevalent among girls, and that gender-sensitive aspects with regards to preventive measures must therefore be considered. Cyberbullying takes many forms: from hurtful comments on social media to manipulated photos and videos, to the non-consensual sharing of intimate content (sexting). It also includes targeted harassment by adults on online platforms and games, which may lead to blackmail or sexual abuse. Such digital violence often crosses the line into criminal behaviour and at the same time leaves deep psychological scars: Those affected by cyberbullying feel hurt, anxious, and perma-nently burdened. It can lead to depression, anxiety disorders, and social withdrawal. In addi-tion, reports include the use of alcohol and other addictive substances, along with suicidal thoughts. Particularly distressing is the fact that digital content spreads rapidly and is almost impossible to erase. Many affected children experience the feeling that it never stops. Cyber-bullying therefore poses a significant threat to the mental health of children and adolescents. The European Union has initiated multiple actions to support and foster young peoples mental health in Europe, as well as to ensure digital participation and a safe digital world for minors. These include, for example the comprehensive approach on mental health, the Action plan for a Safer Internet, or the Digital Service Act. To jointly step up the protection of children and adoles-cents from digital violence, it is essential to specifically address cyberbullying and establish measures within a European action plan. The Federal Chamber of Psychotherapists in Germany (Bundespsychotherapeutenkammer BPtK) proposes the following aspects to be included into the action plan: Raising awareness among children, parents, and teachers: Children and adolescents need to be informed and empowered to report cyberbullying to seek help while parents and teachers need to be informed to respond competently when children become victims or bullies. Strengthening prevention: Educational and childcare institutions, especially schools, but also sport clubs and youth centres, should be equipped to raise awareness about cyberbullying, to inform and to facilitate access to support services for victims. Effective prevention programs against cyberbullying should be implemented. Clearer rules and stronger responsibility for platforms: Digital providers should implement preventive safety mechanisms to combat cyberbully-ing, such as the use of social media accounts with verified names, age verification, re-porting and blocking of users who violate netiquettes or misuse platforms to commit crimes. In the latter case, platform providers must be subject to sanctions if they fail to implement preventive mechanisms or take appropriate action in response to complaints. Especially in cases of non-confidential sharing of intimate pictures or videos, as well as in the case of child sexual abuse material, digital providers must remove harmful content more quickly. Promoting mental health: Affected children and adolescents of cyberbullying need easy and early access to psycho-social support, psychotherapeutic and psychiatric healthcare. As an association representing mental health professionals, we emphasize: Cyberbullying is not merely a social phenomenon but a serious threat to the mental health of young pe
Read full responseResponse to EU cardiovascular health plan
16 Sept 2025
The EU Plan has the potential to become a landmark in European health policy. By embedding mental health as a dimension of cardiovascular health and by consistently combining behavioural with structural prevention, the EU can not only reduce premature mortality but also enhance resilience and quality of life of EU citizens across all Member States. The BPtK strongly supports the initiative.
Read full responseResponse to Single Market Strategy 2025
31 Jan 2025
The German Federal Chamber of Psychotherapists (Bundespsychotherapeutenkammer BPtK) would like to thank the European Commission for the opportunity to provide comments and analysis on the Single Market Strategy 2025 which is of pivotal importance for the future of the European Union. We would like to underscore the following aspects: We believe that the principle of subsidiarity in health care, enshrined in the European legal framework, which states that each Member State shall both define and safeguard the respective health care system for their citizens, and an active role of the European Union in public health strategies are not mutually exclusive but complementary. For it is clearly conducive to a comprehensive European public health strategy as stipulated under Article 168 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union to exchange best practice and cooperate at the European level in a joint effort to, inter alia, prevent diseases, promote healthier lifestyles, deal with cross-border threats particularly in the case of epidemics and to bring forward the EU4Health Programme. We would also like to thank the EU Commission for considering the aspects in the attached statement.
Read full responseResponse to Integrated child protection systems
26 Sept 2023
Die Bundespsychotherapeutenkammer (BPtK) begrüßt ausdrücklich die Initiative der EU-Kommission, den Kinderschutz in der Europäischen Union (EU) weiterzuentwickeln und möchte in diesem Zusammenhang auf die Aspekte in der angefügten Stellungnahme hinweisen.
Read full response