Mental Health during your Doctoral Studies
We all experience difficult situations and stressful phases in the course of our lives, such as family problems, social isolation, self-doubt or work-related problems. For doctoral students in particular, other factors such as a lack of work-life balance, the uncertainties of academic careers, setbacks in their own dissertation project, conflicts in supervision and the enormous competitive pressure in academia can also play a role. Here you will find advice and help with personal challenges, psychological stress or crises. You are not alone - we will be happy to help you!
Mental health and preventive measures
What is actually meant by 'mental health'? The World Health Organization defines mental health as a "state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realize their abilities, learn well and work well, and contribute to their community. [...] Mental health is more than the absence of mental disorders."
Around one in four people worldwide will struggle with their mental health at some point in their lives. In a survey conducted by Nature, over 33% of the doctoral students surveyed stated that they had already sought support for mental health problems. It is therefore particularly important to take care of your mental health during your doctorate.
A healthy diet, regular exercise, sufficient rest and good stress management can help to strengthen mental health. The University of Bonn offers its members university sports, comprehensive digital health services and at the same time examines the well-being of its doctoral students. In addition to many preventive offers from Healthy Campus Bonn, The Bonn Graduate Center regularly offers workshops on stress management for doctoral students:
Stress management workshops
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Conflict Management in & outside Academia: From Squabbles to a Culture of Conflict
In-person Workshop on July 10, 2024
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The Power of Saying No
Online Workshop on July 16, 2024
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Selbstfürsorge im akademischen Kontext: Wie kümmere ich mich gut um mich selbst?
Online-Workshop am 18. September 2024
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Resilienz-Training zur Karriereunterstützung von Wissenschaftlerinnen - Eigene Potentiale erkennen und fördern
Präsenz-Workshop am 26. und 27. September 2024
The right contact point for your concern
Your mental health can be affected by a wide variety of factors: Through stress or long-term strain, conflicts in the supervisory relationship, experiences of discrimination and many other factors. Whatever your concerns, the University of Bonn has the right contact point for you.
The right contact point for every concern
Psychological counseling
A first point of contact is the Psychological Counseling Service at the Central Study Advisory and Counseling Service (ZSB). In a personal meeting, you can discuss your concerns confidentially and work out solutions and ways of dealing with them. The psychologists are bound to confidentiality.
Psychotherapeutic university clinic
The Psychotherapeutic University Clinic offers you an overview of the various options for admission to therapy and reimbursement procedures.
Psychosocial Counseling Center of the AStA (PSB)
Every student can be confronted with minor or major difficulties and problems in the course of their life and studies that are perceived as overwhelming. The number of possible topics is large. We are happy to offer you an appointment for an initial consultation and will be happy to help you accordingly.
Psychological Counseling Center (PBS) of the Studierendenwerk Bonn
If you or a fellow student are not feeling well, you should not be afraid to seek help. We are a team of psychologists with extensive experience in counseling, clinical psychology and psychotherapy. We are interested in your worries and concerns and support you in finding new perspectives.
Ombudsperson's office for early career researchers
The ombudsman's office for early career researchers can help you find solutions to challenges in your supervisory relationship. As an independent advice, mediation and arbitration service, the ombudsman's office is a professional point of contact for doctoral candidates, postdoctoral researchers and supervisors in the event of problems and conflicts.
Employee and conflict counseling
Employee and conflict counseling is confidential, resource- and solution-oriented and offers qualified support to all employees in science, technology and administration in a personal and professional context. You can seek support in clarifying personal challenges, psychological stress or conflictual areas of tension.
Coaching for doctoral students
You are a doctoral candidate at the University of Bonn, find yourself in a difficult situation during your doctorate and would like help and suggestions on how to overcome it? Coaching will help you to develop and implement your own individual solutions.
Equal Opportunities Office
The central Equal Opportunities Officer supports and advises you on issues relating to equal opportunities as well as discrimination, disadvantage and sexualized harassment.
Administrative Office for Protection against Discrimination
Employees, students and third parties who feel discriminated against due to their ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion or ideology, disability or age can contact the Administrative Office for Protection against Discrimination for information, advice and representation of their interests.
Racism-critical counseling
Dealing with (structural) racism and discrimination at German universities is a challenge that the University of Bonn would also like to take up. In cases where students are affected by racism at the university, racism-critical counseling can help.
Healthy Campus Bonn
Healthy Campus Bonn offers all students various activities, seminars and advisory services on health-related topics and the development of individual health literacy..
Coaching for doctoral candidates
You are a doctoral candidate at the University of Bonn, find yourself in a difficult situation during your doctorate and would like help and suggestions on how to overcome it? Coaching will help you to develop and implement your own individual solutions.
Studying with health impairments
If you are impaired in your studies due to a chronic physical and/or mental illness, you can find advice and support from the representative for students with disabilities or chronic illnesses.
Representative for severely disabled employees
The representative of severely disabled employees and their deputies advise and represent severely disabled colleagues and their equals with the aim of inclusion in the workplace.
Family Office
The Family Office at the University of Bonn offers advice on topics such as balancing studies and family, childcare and caring for relatives.
Staff Council for Academic Employees
The Staff Council for Academic Employees is actively committed to the interests of academic employees and supports you in all matters relating to your job here at the university.
Staff Council for employees in technology and administration
As the representative body for all employees in technology and administration, the Staff Council is committed to your issues and supports you with advice and assistance in all matters relating to your workplace at the University of Bonn.
Psychological and social counseling services
At the University of Bonn you will find numerous advice centers that you can contact during a time of crisis in your doctorate. Contacting us is non-binding and your concerns will always be treated confidentially.
Coaching for Doctoral Students
You are a doctoral student at the University of Bonn, find yourself in a difficult situation during your doctorate and would like help and suggestions on how to overcome it? Coaching will help you to develop and implement your own individual solutions.
Psychological counseling
A first point of contact is the Psychological Counseling Service at the Central Study Advisory and Counseling Service (ZSB). In a personal meeting, you can discuss your concerns confidentially and work out solutions and ways of dealing with them. The psychologists are bound to confidentiality.
Ombudsperson's Office for Early-Career Researchers
The ombudsperson's office for Early-Career researchers can help you to find solutions to challenges in your supervisory relationship. As an independent advice, mediation and arbitration service, the ombudsmperson's office is a professional point of contact for doctoral candidates, postdoctoral researchers and supervisors in the event of problems and conflicts.
Family office
The Family Office at the University of Bonn offers advice on topics such as balancing studies and family, childcare and caring for relatives.
Equal Opportunities Office
The central Equal Opportunities Officer supports and advises you on issues relating to equal opportunities as well as discrimination, disadvantage and sexualized harassment.
Employee and conflict counseling
We work in a confidential, resource- and solution-oriented manner and offer our qualified support to all employees from science, technology and administration in a personal and professional context. Your concerns are safe with us. We provide reliable and empathetic advice when it comes to clarifying personal challenges, psychological stress or conflict-laden areas of tension.
Healthy Campus Bonn
Healthy Campus Bonn offers all students various activities, seminars and advisory services on health-related topics and the development of individual health literacy.
Studying with health impairments
If you are impaired in your studies due to a chronic physical and/or mental illness, you can find advice and support from the representative for students with disabilities or chronic illnesses.
Administrative Office for Protection against Discrimination
Employees, students and third parties who feel discriminated against due to their ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion or ideology, disability or age can turn to the Administrative Office for Protection against Discrimination for information, advice and representation of their interests.
Psychotherapeutic University Clinic
The Psychotherapeutic University Clinic offers you an overview of the various options for admission to therapy and reimbursement procedures.
Psychosocial counseling of the AStA (PSB)
Every student can be confronted with minor or major difficulties and problems in the course of their life and studies that are perceived as overwhelming. The number of possible topics is large. We are happy to offer you an appointment for an initial consultation and will be happy to help you accordingly.
Psychological Counseling Center (PBS) of the Studierendenwerk Bonn
If you or a fellow student are not feeling well, you should not be afraid to seek help. We are a team of psychologists with extensive experience in counseling, clinical psychology and psychotherapy. We are interested in your worries and concerns and support you in finding new perspectives.
Racism-critical counseling
Dealing with (structural) racism and discrimination at German universities is a challenge that the University of Bonn would also like to take up. In cases where students are affected by racism at the university, racism-critical counseling can help.
Staff Council for Academic Employees
The Staff Council for Academic Employees is actively committed to the interests of academic employees and supports you in all matters relating to your job here at the university.
Staff Council for employees in technology and administration
As representative body for all employees in technology and administration, the Staff Council is committed to your issues and supports you with advice and assistance in all matters relating to your workplace at the University of Bonn.
Representative for severely disabled employees
The representative of severely disabled employees and their deputies advise and represent severely disabled colleagues and their equals with the aim of inclusion in the workplace.
Mental health First Aider
The Mental Health First Aid team at the University of Bonn offers confidential first aid for mental distress and crises. Mental Health First Aid is an internationally recognized program that helps to recognize the signs and symptoms of mental illness and to offer help for those affected on the basis of first aid measures and to provide further help in an uncomplicated manner. All MHFA helpers have completed the certified MHFA training and are able to talk to you about health problems and disorders of your mental well-being.
Robert Radu
1.005
Poppelsdorfer Allee 47
Contact
Bonn Graduate Center (BGZ)
Address
Alte Sternwarte
Poppelsdorfer Allee 47
53115 Bonn
Also see
Policy on protection against sexualized discrimination and violence
Sexualized discrimination and violence are not tolerated at the University of Bonn.
Good Research Practice at the University of Bonn
As a research university, the Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn is particularly committed to research and research-led teaching.
Ombudsperson's Office for Early-Career Researchers
The ombudsperson office can help you find possible solutions to challenges in the childcare relationship.