Mental Health Focus Weeks
In better mental shape for study, work and everyday life
© Colourbox

Learn more about your mental health

Mental Health Focus Weeks from November, 02 to November, 13

Our own mental health plays a role in how well we are able to study, work and manage our day-to-day lives. The amount of energy we have, how easily we can get things done and how connected we feel with others are all a function of our personal mental health. The march of digitalization, after-effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and other stress-inducing issues are increasingly making mental health a foreground concern to many people at the University of Bonn and throughout the general public.

This Focus Weeks event is an opportunity to evaluate your psychological well-being and develop your mental health resources accordingly, where you can get tips, learn more in depth and find out about the relevant support offerings available to meet your own personal needs. Improving your mental health will pay off in your studies, work and day-to-day life.

Why focus on mental health?

Mental health is essential to personal health, quality of life and effective work and study. The University is a place for learning, research and work, and these things can involve highly challenging aspects.

Recent findings indicate that mental health is a relevant issue.

  • For students: The TK Dossier 2026 report issued by a leading German health insurer titled revealed that when asked “How are well are students doing in Germany?”, 86% responded that they feel stressed at least some of the time, while 41% said they experience stress frequently.
  • For staff: The TK Health Report 2026 indicates that mental illness was the second leading cause of absenteeism in 2025, representing one of the most common causes of longer-term work incapacity.

The Focus Weeks reflect how mental health prevention is being made a priority as an event aimed at raising awareness, spreading information, enhancing personal resources and facilitating access to support services, enabling the avoidance of greater stress-related impacts leading to extended periods of illness.

    Frau meditiert in einem Flur im Schneidersitz vor Schließfächern
    © Volker Lannert

    Mental Health Focus Weeks: goals

    The Focus Weeks are designed to provide education on a broad spectrum of mental health issues and related offerings available at the University of Bonn and cooperating organizations through an array of formats including lectures, workshops and dialogue opportunities.

    Focus Weeks communicates the message that mental health is not a sideline issue, but rather an issue of concern to everyone. Talking openly about the subject and drawing attention to the relevant services offered will help lower barriers to getting help and stimulate dialogue on mental health at the University of Bonn.

    Mental Health Focus Weeks: organization

    Many perspectives, one united effort: The Mental Health Focus Weeks event is an initiative of the Psychosocial Health Working Group at the University of Bonn.

    More about the Working Group

    Mental Health Focus Weeks: offerings

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    “Impression Depression”: becoming sensitized to the situation of people suffering from depression

    On November 10, 2026 the Robert Enke Foundation will be holding a one-hour guided group experience with VR glasses at the University of Bonn designed to let participants trade places with an individual with depression. The experience promotes sensitivity and understanding towards those who suffer from the condition.

    Click the button to learn more about this educational virtual reality session, what it involves and how to register!

    Color Walking

    Take a break. Go for a stroll. Discover the colors around you. 

    This may sound familiar: You go outside during your break, but your mind remains occupied on the same things rather than refocusing your attention on your surroundings. Thinking about work, an upcoming appointment and other issues requiring attention, sometimes it’s hard to use your break to ease your mind and actually relax.

    That’s what Color Walking is all about:
    going outdoors, getting some exercise and taking a moment to notice your surroundings—deliberately focusing your attention on one single color.

    Take a break of roughly 20-25 minutes’ duration to get some exercise while consciously shifting your perception.

    Person geht im Wald spazieren, man sieht sie von hinten
    © Colourbox

    Counseling offerings for support

    Sometimes when people feel stressed or overwhelmed, they think they have to deal with things all on their own. The University and its cooperating institutions maintain a considerable network of various counseling and support offerings that can be helpful to take advantage of in many different professional and personal situations. Some of these offerings are connected with the Psychosocial Health Working Group, an overview of which is therefore provided here.

    Take your time and browse through the respective overview pages to become familiar with the offerings available. The individual offerings within the broad range of counseling services are tailored to various target groups, such as undergraduate and master’s students, doctoral students and University staff members.
    Use the buttons below to navigate to the respective overview pages listing the counseling offerings relevant for you.

    If you are aware of the existing counseling and support offerings but unsure whether you should reach out, or how to get in contact:
    then read the FAQs  below to find useful information.

    Psychosocial and other counseling services at the University of Bonn—FAQ

    Contact is generally made via website contact form, or by phone or email. Multiple contact options are typically offered. You start by arranging an appointment for an initial consultation. The appointment may be in person or via Zoom, based on preferences, requirements and/or availability. See the website of the respective counseling provider for details regarding the process.

    One or more counseling sessions may take place as follow-up to the initial consultation.

    Counseling consultations are not psychotherapy sessions and are not for receiving diagnoses. Rather, they are an easily accessible opportunity to discuss one’s issues and receive unbiased, impartial advice from trained counselors. As appropriate, you may be referred to other providers able to address your concerns more directly.

    Consultations are always confidential across all counseling providers. Information is never passed on to your superior, faculty, instructors or any other individuals.

    Students and dotoral students

    University advice and support services are available for a wide range of issues you may be experiencing. These don’t have to be purely study-related concerns, for in many cases, there is no clear line separating personal life from one’s studies, thus issues not strictly connected with your studies can be discussed in a consultation.

    If you have not contacted the right counseling provider for your issue, the provider you reach out to will always refer you on to the person or provider you need to get in touch with. The university health management service Healthy Campus Bonn will be happy to assist you in finding the right point of contact for your issue.

    To lower the anxiety threshold and accelerate the process, the Central Student Advisory and Counseling Service offers clearing, i.e. initial guidance or triage to point inquirers in the right direction. This involves an initial anonymous no-appointment assessment, available during certain time windows, after which you can make a consultation appointment if you believe that may be in your interest.

    A generalized initial consultation for doctoral students is offered by the Bonn Graduate Center for you to present your issues and receive a referral to counseling providers competent in your area of concern. 

    Staff members

    If unsure what counseling provider you should best get in touch with for your issues, you can contact the Healthy Campus Bonn team. We will gladly assist you, directing you to the most suitable counseling provider/s.

    The Psychosocial Health Working Group

    The Psychosocial Health Working Group is comprised of the various different players at the University and cooperating organizations active in the area, who work together to promote mental health among all constituent groups, stimulate productive dialogue on mental health and connect existing individual services.

    Fäden an einer Pinnwand, die mit Pinnnadeln verknüpft sind
    © Colourbox

    Current member units represented in the Working Group in 2026

    • Representative for Students with Disabilities or Chronic Illnesses
    • Staff Counseling Service for Psychosocial Matters and Conflict Resolution
    • Doctoral Student Support in the International Office
    • Occupational Health Management at the University Hospital Bonn
    • Staff Physicians Office at the University of Bonn
    • Bonn Graduate Center
    • Bonn Graduate School of Economics
    • Protestant Student Congregation
    • Office of Family Services
    • Gender Equality Office
    • Healthy Campus Bonn
    • University Communications at the University of Bonn
    • Conflict Mediation for Doctoral Students in the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
    • Human Resource Development
    • Psychological Counseling from the Central Study Advisory and Counseling Service
    • Psychological Counseling Center of the Studierendenwerk
    • Equal Opportunity and Diversity Unit
    • Representative for Staff with Severe Disabilities

    Your Contact

    Avatar Shepherd

    Hannah Shepherd

    +49 228 73-69930

    Healthy study coordinator
    © Volker Lannert/Uni Bonn
    Avatar Zenk

    Dr. Franziska Zenk

    +49 228 73-1905

    Focus on mental health

    Together shaping our university health management strategy

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