Mental health has become an increasingly important topic for society as a whole in recent years. Mental health problems among young people are a fact of life and have been shown to have a negative impact on learning and performance. The project to systematically survey the mental health of pupils is providing initial results.

Following the pilot project at Liechtensteinisches Gymnasium in the 2023/24 school year, a three-year pilot phase was launched in 2024/25 to collect the necessary data. Throughout the entire project, the School of Social Work at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW) will collect data across all three cycles of the Liechtenstein curriculum. The aim is to identify the need for action and derive measures to strengthen the mental health of children and young people.

Survey with key topic areas
In the first year of the pilot phase, cycle 3 at secondary level I and school level 6 was examined; in the current school year, the project is being continued in cycle 2, the 3rd-5th primary classes. In April 2025, 872 pupils (response rate: 80%), 308 parents or guardians (response rate: 33%) and 109 school staff - principals, teachers, assistants and school social workers (total response rate: 57%) - were surveyed at the eight secondary and high schools. The anonymous online surveys covered key topics such as the academic and psychological well-being of pupils, the school and classroom climate, pressure to perform and stress, experiences of bullying, the use of social media and the support services available at the schools.

The results show an overall positive picture, but also draw attention to challenges. 81% of pupils are somewhat to very satisfied with their lives, 71% rate their health as good to excellent. The majority report a positive attitude towards school and enjoy learning, which 78% of parents confirm. Friendships and family support are important resources, and around two thirds of pupils also rate the support they receive from teachers or school social workers as helpful when they have problems or questions. A clear majority of pupils and school staff rate the school climate positively.

However, the results also reveal stresses and concerns among pupils. Just under half of the young people reported a depressed mood in the two weeks prior to the start of the survey, and 37% reported sleeping difficulties. One fifth experience high levels of stress, although this is not necessarily exclusively due to school. Pressure to perform is also a key issue: 56% of students believe that a lot of work and good performance is expected at school, while 42% believe that they have to work very hard to get a good grade. The vast majority of young people rarely experience bullying, but 17% state that they are excluded several times a month or more. 10% were regularly hit or pushed around by other pupils in the 12 months prior to the survey, 6% were threatened. The use of social media also plays a role in mental health: 13% of young people show problematic use. In general, it can be seen that the male respondents have more positive values for all mental health indicators than the females - always in relation to pupils. In the same context, older pupils achieve lower scores than younger pupils, although this is the case regardless of gender.

Recommendations for strengthening mental health
Although the majority of respondents consider the prevailing situation at secondary schools to be good, three key areas for development nevertheless emerge: the design of the school as a healthy place to learn and work, the promotion of mental health through specific measures and the competent handling of mental health problems. The full FHNW report contains detailed recommendations, including approaches to strengthen the school and classroom climate, preventative measures against bullying, the promotion of social support and participation as well as strategies for coping with stress and regulating emotions. In addition, suggestions are made for raising awareness and developing the skills of school staff. The FHNW's recommendations and suggestions will be taken up by an internal school authority working group, which will plan and implement targeted measures together with the schools.

The entire report is available online at the following website:

Pilot Phase Mental Health of Pupils - Liechtenstein National Administration