Hospitalizations for Depression Rise in Germany, Nearing Pre-Pandemic Levels

New data shows a 3.6% increase in 2023, with young people and women disproportionately affected.

The number of hospitalizations for depression in Germany increased to over 261,000 cases in 2023, marking the third consecutive year of growth.
Depression accounted for 25% of all hospitalizations related to mental health conditions, making it the most common diagnosis in this category.
Women represented 61% of patients hospitalized for depression, while men were more frequently treated for alcohol-related mental health issues.
Among 10- to 19-year-olds, mental health issues were the leading cause of hospitalizations, with depression contributing to 30% of these cases.
Hospital stays for depression are significantly longer than average, with treatments lasting 32 to 39 days compared to the overall average of 7 days.