Junge Menschen in psychischen Krisen – Aktuelle Forschungsergebnisse zum 24/7 Chat-Beratungsangebot ‚krisenchat‘

Zusammenfassung

krisenchat ist ein kostenloses, rund um die Uhr erreichbares psychosoziales Beratungsangebot für Kinder, Jugendliche und junge Erwachsene bis 25 Jahre in Krisensituationen. Per Chat erhalten sie anonyme und unkomplizierte Unterstützung von geschulten ehrenamtlichen Fachkräften. Die Berater:innen helfen im Chat (z. B. per WhatsApp, SMS und seit August 2025 via WebChat) bei psychischen Belastungen, Krisen oder akuten Problemen wie Suizidgedanken, Mobbing, Gewalt oder familiären Konflikten. In diesem Überblicksartikel werden aktuelle Forschungsergebnisse zu krisenchat zusammengefasst und eingeordnet. Die Ergebnisse deuten insgesamt auf eine sehr hohe Akzeptanz und Machbarkeit von krisenchat hin. Insgesamt besteht ein hoher Bedarf an einem 24/7 Messenger-basierten Chat- und Beratungsangebot für junge Menschen in Krisensituationen im deutschsprachigen Raum. Das Angebot von krisenchat scheint für verschiedene Altersgruppen, Anliegen und Themen geeignet zu sein, wird von den Nutzer:innen als sehr positiv bewertet und über 85% würden es weiterempfehlen. Darüber hinaus scheint krisenchat eine wichtige (Gatekeeper)-Rolle bei z.B. Vermittlung von Wissen und Weitervermittlung in bestehende Angebote des Gesundheits- und Versorgungssystems zu spielen, zumal viele der Nutzer:innen (mit teils sehr ernsthaften psychischen Symptomen) vorher noch keinen Kontakt zu anderen professionellen Hilfsangeboten hatten. Derzeit gibt es in Deutschland keinen anderen Online-Dienst für Jugendliche, der nach 19 Uhr oder am Wochenende zur Verfügung steht, was auf die große Bedeutung von krisenchat und eine wichtige Funktion hinweist, nämlich eine vorhandene Lücke im System der psychischen Gesundheitsversorgung zu schließen.

Abstract

‘krisenchat’ (crisis chat) is a free, 24/7 psychosocial counseling service for children, adolescents, and young adults up to the age of 25 who are experiencing acute psychosocial crises. Support is provided anonymously and accessibly via chat by trained volunteer professionals. Counseling is delivered through widely used messaging platforms (e.g., WhatsApp, SMS, and since August 2025 web-based chat) and addresses a range of issues, including psychological distress, suicidal ideation, bullying, experiences of violence, and familial conflicts. This review article synthesizes and contextualizes current empirical findings on the use and impact of krisenchat. The available data indicate high feasibility and broad acceptance of the service among the target population. There is substantial evidence for a pronounced demand for low-threshold, 24/7 messenger-based counseling options for young people in crisis situations within the German-speaking context. The service appears to be effective across diverse age groups, topics, and presenting concerns. User feedback is very positive, with over 85% of users indicating they would recommend the service to others in need. In addition, krisenchat appears to fulfill a crucial gatekeeping function by providing psychoeducational information and facilitating referrals to formal health and support systems. Notably, a significant proportion of users—many of whom report severe psychological symptoms—had not previously accessed professional mental health services. At present, krisenchat represents the only digital counseling service in the German-speaking region that is accessible to young people outside of regular service hours, including evenings and weekends. These findings underscore its essential role in bridging existing gaps in the mental health care system for youth.

Schlüsselwörter

Chat-Beratung - Kinder und Jugendliche - Krise - Online Intervention

Keywords

chat counseling - children and adolescents - youth - crisis - online Intervention

Publication History

Received: 08 September 2025

Accepted: 27 November 2025

Article published online:
27 January 2026

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