Mental health in studies and work

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Do you feel overloaded?

Are you plagued by anxiety and self-doubt?

Do you have difficulty concentrating?

Do you feel joyless and exhausted?

Is everyday life getting on top of you?

Are you unable to sleep well?

Do you recognize yourself in these questions and want to take action? But you don't know exactly how?

In this case, the Faculty of Medicine is available to provide you with guidance. It offers support and encourages its students and staff to talk about their challenges and needs. At the same time, the Faculty of Medicine is committed to ensuring that the concerns of its members are taken seriously, treated appropriately and confidentially.

Mental health and psychological stress in the scientific context

The topic of mental health is receiving more and more attention in public discourse - including in the academic context. As national and international studies show, mental stress and illness are widespread among students. Estimates worldwide indicate that around 1/3 of students suffer from at least one disorder requiring treatment (Auerbach et al., 2018). Similar rates are found for academic employees (Meeks et al., 2023). Those affected often do not want to be judged and tend to see mental illness and stress as a sign of weakness, which is particularly undesirable in the context of a university, where people compete with each other for better grades, better degrees and a better career. In addition to performance-related stress, experiences of harassment and discrimination can also contribute to the experience of stress. The call to change these structures is therefore growing louder: "With researchers reporting high rates of anxiety and depression, calls are growing to change toxic elements of the culture in science" (Hall, 2023).

Promoting mental health at the university and faculty

The University of Cologne and the Faculty of Medicine have a special social responsibility in their role as educational institutions and employers. In addition to imparting knowledge and raising awareness of the requirements of a demanding job market or the path to top national or international research, framework conditions must be created with regard to the learning, teaching and living environment. These must enable students and employees to develop a sense of mental stability and well-being. Only in this way can motivation, performance and professional satisfaction be maintained in the long term while preserving mental health. The support offered by the university and faculty therefore includes counseling services, workshops on coping with stress and promoting mental well-being (well-being skills) as well as programs to promote a healthy work-life balance. External institutions also offer measures to strengthen mental well-being and support those affected in the event of mental disorders.