Many students will at some point during their studies feel overwhelmed and might not know where to look for guidance or just a shoulder to cry on. We hope this page will help you find someone to talk to, as this will always be the most important step: Talk to someone.
You are not alone.
If you feel comfortable doing so, we at the BMS are also happy to listen to you and, if of interest, also share our experiences with these processes. Please contact Annika or Tanja.
For urgent first aid, please use the Berlin Crisis Center (Krisendienst): https://www.berliner-krisendienst.de/en/
Hospitals with urgent psychiatric care: https://www.anlaufstellen-berlin.de/doku.php/psychiatrie/kliniken
Or if you are thinking of harming yourself, please find 24 hour help here.
You may also find a helpful service here: https://www.berlin.de/willkommenszentrum/alltag/gesundheit/
All three Berlin Universities offer counseling and psychological services. Students may contact them to discuss a range of issues from study motivation, orientation at university, meeting deadlines and exam nerves, to study overload, homesickness, family problems, depression or any other academic or non-academic issue. The COVID-19 pandemic has expectedly caused negative effects on students' mental health, thus making them less motivated to study and increasing symptoms of depression and isolation.
At the first meeting, the counselor will outline what steps can be taken to solve a specific problem. Further appointments can be made or else the counselor will help the student to find a therapist if necessary. The counseling sessions are strictly confidential.
https://www.fu-berlin.de/en/sites/studienberatung/psychologische_beratung/
https://www.hu-berlin.de/en/studies/counselling/psyber
https://www.tu.berlin/en/studienberatung/while-studying/psychological-counseling
If you feel comfortable doing so, we at the BMS are also happy to talk to you and also share our experiences with these processes.
The universities and the BUA also offer certain trainings to aid students through stress and crisis:
https://www.berlin-university-alliance.de/en/commitments/promoting-talent/projekte/graduate-studies-support-program/module-4/index.html
https://programm.zewk.tu-berlin.de/de/event_series/018ec413-b41d-743c-a074-d8f636f6664d
If you are seeking long-term/ regular psychotherapy:
If you have public German health insurance, you can make an appointment with any therapist that is in the public health insurance network: https://www.kvberlin.de/fuer-patienten/arzt-und-psychotherapeutensuche
Public health insurance providers cover initial "getting to know each other" consultations (usually up to five per therapist) without any diagnosis/ extra application. If you feel comfortable with the therapist and they can take you on as a regular patient, the therapist will send an application to your health insurance provider. For this application, you will need to get a diagnosis from a general practitioner ("Hausarzt" or "Allgemeinmediziner").
However, it can be quite difficult to find a therapist who is not at full capacity and covered by the public health insurance providers. You should always double check with your therapist whether they are covered by public health insurance, what kind of reimbursements are possible or whether you have to pay privately.
This organization might help you with finding a therapist: https://bipp-berlin.de/ambulanz-vermittlungsstelle
If you have private health insurance or are using the EHIC from your home country, please check in with your insurance first to find out what they will cover and how to go about it. You most likely will need to contact a general practitioner ("Hausarzt" or "Allgemeinmediziner") first to get a diagnosis and then find a therapist afterwards.
It may also help to contact your health insurance provider to ask for advice on finding the right doctor or therapist and how to get the therapy covered by your insurance.
Two BMS students took the time to collect all information on how to find help for your mental health in this pdf (2021): Guide
Here are some more resources on mental health:
https://dragonflymentalhealth.org/
https://www.scholar-minds.net
https://www.studentminds.org.uk/
https://www.zeit.de/gesundheit/2021-07/psychotherapie-psychische-erkrankungen-therapieplatz-finden-therapiearten-kostenuebernahme-tipps/
https://psych-info.de/
https://krisenchat.de/ (in German)
Phone hotline by students for students (Tue-Thu 8.30 pm - midnight): https://berlin.nightlines.eu/
Podcast "Smart & Well" by students and researchers from the Berlin School of Mind and Brain (on Spotify and Apple Podcasts)
Podcast episode with Scholar Minds on Mental Health in the Doctorate
You can also find some apps that might help you get a therapist or offer courses, however, these are mostly in German and not for free:
https://www.selfapy.com
https://de.deprexis.com
TK Relaxation Audios: https://www.tk.de/en/i-am-tk/tk-members/audio-relaxation-methods-2115254
Information in German: https://www.psychotherapeutenkammer-berlin.de/ratsuchende/psychotherapie
The TK Study guide offers seminars on health insurance in Germany and other important issues.
