Young people have a strong need for orientation and security during adolescence and are looking for perspectives for their lives. Developing their own identity and identifying with different social roles can be challenging during this time. If growing up is accompanied by difficulties or problems, there can be a danger that positions of extremist groups will find favour with them. Global crises, which have a very direct impact on many people’s lives, can lead to further insecurities and worries and fuel possible radicalisation processes. In this context, mental abnormalities or illnesses can be risk factors or arise as part of the radicalisation or disengagement process.
The Department of Psychotherapy has set itself the goal of strengthening the psychological perspective in extremism prevention and disassociation work. Similarly, the team offers itself as a bridge between the Berlin Advice Centre and professionals from the fields of psychiatry and psychotherapy in order to strengthen the networking between the different professions and, if necessary, also to cooperate in concrete case work.