Students suffer: New survey project on mental health starts!

Students suffer: New survey project on mental health starts!

Potsdam, Deutschland - On April 23, 2025, the University of Potsdam will take public with an important health survey. Under the title "Hay! How are you?" If the survey aims to gain a better understanding of the mental health of students. This initiative is carried out by employees of student health management and researchers from the professorship for social and preventive medicine. The survey period extends from April 15 to June 15, 2025 and participation takes about 20 minutes. The target group are the students of the University of Potsdam.

The study is the increasing need to better record the health of the students and to identify specific challenges within the various courses. Already in a preliminary survey in 2023, 36% of the participants reported increased depression values. In addition, the technician health insurance company has determined an increase in the risk of burnout; Between 2015 and 2023, the affected student group doubled. Another aspect of the survey concerns the challenges of Corona pandemic, which are perceived particularly strongly among students.

topics of the survey

The survey includes a variety of topics: This includes not only health itself, but also aspects such as the financing of the course, living space and the effects of corona pandemic. The monitoring of the stress life and the health relationship of various faculties is a central objective. In several phases, experts will have their say and organized focus groups with students. In the long term, a stakeholder committee is to be formed that unites students, university management and university politician in order to advance the anchoring of health issues in the course.

students in Germany have not only been faced with psychological stress since the pandemic situation. A study by autumn et al. (2016) has shown that 53% of students in Germany have a high stress level. Students are particularly affected in certain disciplines such as veterinary medicine and computer science. About 20% of the students show references to depressive disorders and the prevalence of anxiety disorders is between 18% and 21% [ PMC ].

challenges and solutions

The challenges for students are diverse. Notice prints, the balance between studying and leisure as well as social influences such as social media contribute to the mental conflict. Financial uncertainties and high academic pressure have established themselves as central stress factors. In the course of their studies, 25% of the students surveyed have thought of taking their lives. Around 10.6% of them further developed such thoughts within a year. Barriers such as fear of stigmatization and long waiting times for psychological help make access to necessary support.

In order to meet these challenges, successful coping strategies are essential. Mindfulness, sport and social support can help improve mental well -being. It is necessary to develop effective solutions, such as educational campaigns and the expansion of advisory services. A healthy study atmosphere plays a crucial role in the well -being of the students.

The planned health survey at the University of Potsdam is therefore not only understood as a research instrument, but also as a starting point for a stronger anchoring of the topic of mental health in everyday university life. Further information on participation can be called up at the website Potsdam