In Germany, struggling parents who are having a hard time have gone to health retreats for a long time. Does anything happen?
Sebastian Schwerk woke up in the middle of the night, his mind racing. His father had lately passed away from leukemia. Schwerk, along with his siblings and his own family, had been looking after him for months. His mother, too, required attention. In addition, his two oldest children were approaching puberty. With so much going on, he was concerned that his youngest son was not receiving enough care.
Every four years, struggling parents in Germany may be the only country in the world to be legally entitled to a “Kur,” a three-week wellness getaway. A doctor prescribes a Kur, which is typically covered by insurance. All meals, childcare, and therapy are provided. Importantly, the retreat can cure a health condition and is a preventative tool to keep minor problems from worsening.
Schwerk, for example, opted to apply for an insurance-funded retreat to cure his insomnia as a prophylactic precaution.
Schwerk checked out muscle relaxation therapy, meditation, Nordic walking, and yoga for the first time. He even gave up some long-held habits:
Although it may appear to be a vacation, research suggests that the retreats are unexpectedly beneficial in preventing significantly severe health problems, especially for struggling parents. Some argue that rising demand for them should raise red flags, indicating that more and more parents are breaking under the strain of ordinary living. The residual effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdowns have exacerbated the situation.
The most common issues are psychological issues like anxiety, insomnia, or depressive symptoms, which affect over 90% of the stuggling parents who attend their retreats, according to Bovermann, up from 80% earlier.
The retreats’ origins may appear to be a far cry from modern parental concerns. After WWII, Elly Heuss-Knapp, a politician and the wife of Germany’s president, established the Müttergenesungswerk to assist weary mothers. Mothers suffering from the impacts of war and malnourishment while caring for traumatized children and husbands were among the early participants.
The fix for struggling parents
Parental burnout is a new type of familial stress that is gaining popularity in Germany and around the world.
Global research has highlighted the profound impact of parental burnout, defined as “overwhelming exhaustion related to one’s parental role, an emotional distancing from one’s children, and a sense of parental ineffectiveness.” Burnout is distressing for parents and increases the risk of child neglect and violence against children. Despair in the parents might have an impact on their children in different ways. Parental depression raises the probability of depression in children and has been connected to behavioral issues.
According to mental health surveys, the situation increased during the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdowns, when many caregivers juggled work and childcare without assistance. Single mothers and fathers were particularly vulnerable at the time. Women also face more health risks, with one-third of single mothers experiencing depression or anxiety symptoms. In addition, even single parents have a lower life expectancy than married parents.
According to Bovermann, one issue in Germany is the deeply ingrained social expectation that one partner – generally the mother – should stay at home with the children. This anticipation was especially strong in West Germany during the country’s division. As a result, women in East Germany were more likely to work. According to research, this has had a long-term, positive impact on gender equality in that region of the country, even decades after reunification.
According to Bovermann, in comparison to France or Scandinavian nations, German working moms continue to experience a need for more dependable childcare and social assistance. Fathers who wish to do their fair share may be met with hostility. Many struggling parents must care for both their children and their aging parents.
According to research, while a three-week retreat cannot miraculously address these issues, it can significantly impact individual moms and fathers – and even provide long-term advantages.
When parents visit a clinic, they are assessed and given a plan of specialized activities and therapies, such as talking therapy, physical exercise, and sessions with guidance on how to live a better lifestyle. The children are cared for and given assistance with health issues while the staff handles the meals and housekeeping. Parents and children spend time together in the afternoons.
According to research, parents’ physical problems, such as back discomfort, improved up to nine months after the retreat, especially if the exercises were followed in their regular life. In addition, children benefited from the retreat in various diseases, including skin disorders, respiratory issues, and behavioral issues, with improvements still visible six months later. Separately, patient surveys have revealed that the getaways are useful to most struggling parents, who believe they help them deal with challenges and care for their health in everyday life.
Read Also: Burnout: Is there an end to the menace?
Because the advantages are thought to continue up to a year, Kirsch suggests repeating the retreat every few years if the health concerns return or worsen.
According to evidence, specialized getaways may also benefit struggling parents and their children.
