For good research and teaching, the mental and physical well-being of researchers is a central prerequisite. At the University of Konstanz, we strive to actively contribute to strengthening the mental health of our researchers with a comprehensive range of support services.
Doing research is great - but it also can be tough and exhausting. We know that.
The University of Konstanz offers a huge variety of trainings, advice, counselling, and other support measures for academics who want to take care for their own mental health and well-being.
On this page you will find an overview of the offers and measures - sorted by occasion.
How to: Sustain balance in your life as a researcher?
Check out easy activities to integrate self-care and well-being into your everyday life.
Trainings at the university
Each semester, the Academic Staff Development and the Human Resource Department offer trainings to balance stress and mental load, or just to nurture resilence.
Find current offers on the Gesunde Uni's website.
Yoga break: free exercise break
The Yoga Break takes place Tuesdays from 12:15 to 12:45
It's
- open to all researchers and employees of the University of Konstanz
- free of charge and registration
- guided by Dr. Muna Schönhuber (Hatha Yoga teacher)
- held in German but easy to follow
- good for your mind, body, and soul! :-)
For further info please visit - uni.kn/gesunde-uni/yoga-break
Dragonfly: Worldwide mental health initiative from researchers for researchers
The initiative aims at cultivating excellent mental health in academia. It offers programmes and services to reasearchers all over the world such as events or peer networks.
To find out more, please check - dragonflymentalhealth.org.
Empowerment for specific communities
Students and researchers with Asperger's syndrome
Every 2nd Friday/month an Asperghers round table takes place from 7 to 9 pm.
To join, please contact: shg-asperger-unikonstanz@web.de.
Uniqueer
... is a university group for LGBTQIA+ students (but everyone else is welcome too). They meet each Wednesday at 5 pm discuss queer topics, to organise events, or just to chat.
For further information please visit their website: - uniqueer.weebly.com.
Further support groups for self-help in the district of Konstanz
In the district of Konstanz, there is huge variety of different support groups for people and their relatives with disability, illness or life crisis. The groups bring together people with same experience to strengthen each other and to become active. Please note that most of the groups communicate in German only.
Link to the network - kom-mit.de.
How to: Re-balance your mental health?
When something doesn't feel right, contact experts to help finding your opportunities to get mentally re-balanced - the sooner, the better.
Counselling service
The University of Konstanz offers an external counselling sevice for all researchers and staff members who feel worried at work.
It's
- free of charge (up to 3 sessions)
- confidential
- operated by counselling experts of the Diakonie Konstanz
For further information check the Gesunde Uni's website.
Coaching and advice of the Academic Staff Development
Over the course of your academic career, you are likely to come across a number of questions such as how best to handle your research and teaching responsibilities, how to manage future prospects, career strategies, job application procedures and challenges.
The Academic Staff Development at the University of Kostanz is happy to assist you with all of these.
Points of contact to address problems, conflicts, discrimination
Getting together and working with other people can lead to a number of challenges - ranging from open conflict to various forms of harassment and even discrimination. The University of Konstanz provides information, advice and support to all our members who find themselves in difficult situations.
Please find the guide to the contact points here.
International telephone helplines
Rather prefer to talk somebody anonymously? Here is an overview on international telephone helpline.
University Outpatient Clinic
The Outpatient Clinic is part of Prof. Dr. Daniela Mier's group Clinical Psychology. It offers behavioral therapy in individual and group settings. The psychotherapy is billed in the usual ways in the health care system (statutory health insurance, private insurance and self-pay). The focus lies on:
- Somatoform disorders (e.g. fear of illness, chronic pain)
- Psychotic disorders
- Post-traumatic stress disorders
- Anxiety disorders (e.g. panic disorder, social anxiety, phobias, test anxiety)
- Affective disorders (e.g. depression)
- Obsessive-compulsive disorders
- Eating disorders (e.g. anorexia, bulimia)
- Substance-related disorders (e.g. alcohol addiction)
Further information can be found on the website of the Mier's group.
International telephone helplines/lifelines
In case of urgency, don't hesitate to call a telephone helpline. They are staffed 24/7.
Here ist the list of international helplines (scroll down).
Suicidal thoughts
If you are considering committing suicide get help and call a helpline:
- German helpline: 0800 111 0 111 or 0800 111 0 222 (toll free)
- For non-German speakers: List of international helplines
In case of emergency, call 112!
How to: be a mindful leader and keep your group mentally balanced?
Profit from the university's offers - for yourself and for your group members.
Trainings of the Academic Staff Development
The Academic Staff Development (ASD) offers professors a wide range of trainings, advice and couselling service - including strategic consultation.
Diversity Pool: Adjustment and diversity trainings
As part of the Code of Practice on Diversity, the Office for Equal Opportunity, Family Affairs, and Diversity has set up a Diversity Pool. It aims to promote inclusion and appreciation of all members of the University of Konstanz.
Researchers can profit of three funding lines:
- Adjustment and support for early career researchers
- Additional costs for invitations of visiting researchers and lecturers
- Diversity trainings for research groups
Further information can be obtained at the diversity website.