Mental Health
Mental Health Counseling and Support Services for Students and Employees of the University of Bremen Page Contents For Students For Employees Overview of Counseling Services back to start Counseling and Support Services for Students and Employees Pursuing a degree is really rewarding, but it can also be tough sometimes. Changes in the workplace might mean you need to take a new path. On top of that, life events can have a huge impact on things for both students and employees. So we want to help you out as much as we can. The University of Bremen offers many counseling and support services for students and employees, and we've compiled a list of them here. © University of Bremen Illustration #info-for-students0 Information for Students I am having mental health issues and I am not well. Where can I get help? If you're struggling with personal or degree-related issues, you can reach out to the Psychological Counselling Centre of the Studierendenwerk Bremen (student services organization). Their counseling services are free, and all employees are required to keep conversations strictly confidential. They also also offer online counseling, workshops, and group sessions to help you deal with the different stresses that come with being a student. You can find more information at: Psychological Counselling Centre of the Studierendenwerk Bremen The Office for Students with Disabilities or Chronic Diseases (KIS) provides counseling for students with a visible or invisible physical or mental impairment. KIS can help you with: Academic adjustments during a degree Organizing and financing a degree Considerations of personal hardships and academic adjustments at enrollment Support services Counseling provided by KIS is confidential, independent, and free of charge. You can find out more at: Office for Students with Disabilities or Chronic Diseases (KIS) The University of Bremen’s MHFA team can offer initial care for mental health issues. MHFA stands for Mental Health First Aid and is a training program that gives laypersons the necessary skills to provide first aid for mental health issues and to manage crises until professional health is available. Since November 2023, the University of Bremen has provided mental health first aid training to volunteer employees. They are available to talk to you and ready to help. These easy-access conversations are treated with the utmost confidentiality, can be scheduled on short notice, and are considered a short-term service. You can find more information at the Workplace Health Management Office website . In acute crises , please contact one of the following institutions: Telephone Crisis Hotline Bremen : 0800 - 11 101 11 (available 24/7, anonymous, free of charge, and also has email and chat services, in German only) Telephone Crisis Hotlines in English: 030 - 44 01 06 07 (available daily from 6:00 p.m. until 12:00 a.m. for psychological or personal problems, free of charge) +44 116 123 (UK number, available 24/7, international phone charges may apply) Samaritans Website (available 24/7, anonymous, email services) Lifeline Website (available 24/7, anonymous, also has text and chat services) Social Psychiatric and Crisis Intervention Service Bremen : If you need in-person counseling, please contact one of the five counseling centers for social psychiatric services (South, Center, West, East, North), depending on where you live. Office hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. You can find phone numbers and addresses on the health department website (in German only). The crisis intervention service (KID) is also available by telephone for emergencies on weekdays from 3:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m. and weekends and holidays from 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Call: 0421 800582-33 Klinikum Bremen-Ost If you need to be admitted to a psychiatric hospital, please contact the Bremen-Ost clinic. 0421 408-0 Main office Nachtwerk Bremen: Nachtwerk offers immediate help for mental crises and stressful situations for those who are directly and indirectly affected and their relatives and provides qualified counseling and support. Their services include a crisis hotline (0421 957 00 310 / Mon - Fri from 9:00 p.m. to 8:30 a.m., Sat and Sun and on holidays from 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 a.m.), a night cafe (Helgolander Straße 73) and they can provide overnight accommodation in cases of acute danger. Further information: Nachtwerk Bremen (in German only) Emergency medical service: 116 117 Medical assistance is available all hours of the day, free of charge (116 117) In case of imminent danger that requires immediate attention, you can also contact the police (phone number 110) or the responsible fire department and emergency services center (phone number 112) to have an ambulance sent. I have a disability or a chronic condition that affects my degree. What services are available? The Office for Students with Disabilities or Chronic Diseases (KIS) is a counseling service for students with a visible or invisible physical or mental impairment. KIS provides advice regarding Academic adjustments during a degree Organizing and financing a degree Considerations of personal hardships and academic adjustments at enrollment Support services Counseling provided by KIS is confidential, independent, and free of charge. Faculty 11’s initiative barrier-free degree (BaS) is committed to helping students with chronic illnesses or impairments. Are there support services for personal, social, and financial matters? Studierendenwerk’s Social Counseling Services provides assistance and information to all students, prospective students, and graduates regarding personal, social, and financial matters related to their student status and student life. This counseling is free and the conversations are strictly confidential. AStA’s BAföG and social counseling services provide students free counseling on matters relating to BAföG, unemployment payments, housing benefits, rent, exams, social security, master’s degree admissions, and child benefits. International students can contact the International Office for support services regarding their degree. There is an aid fund for financial emergencies. Further information: Offers for international Students International students facing financial emergencies can also contact the non-profit association Xenos e.V. . General information and tips regarding financing a degree can be found here: Student Financing and Jobs In addition to my degree, I am also a caregiver or am expecting a child. Are there services for this? The Family Care Office is the first point of contact for questions regarding pregnancy during a degree, childcare, and caretaking. There are also several services for discussion and networking, for example the Family Caregiver Support Group. You can find further information at: Family Care Office - Universität Bremen Students of the Family-Friendly University working group (AG FFS) advocate for family-friendly degree programs. They have their own meeting room, which provides kids many options for play. Further information: Working Group on Family-Friendly Studies (AG FFS) - Universität Bremen A collection of information for university members with family responsibilities can be found here: Families Welcome - Universität Bremen I experienced discrimination, conflicts, or violence. Whom can I contact? The Advisory and Information Centre on Discrimination and Violence (ADE) counsels on all forms of discrimination, conflicts, and violence. ADE is responsible for all students and employees of the University of Bremen the core administration of the public services sector, and all universities (Hochschule Bremen - City University of Applied Sciences, University of the Arts Bremen, Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences) in the state of Bremen. These services are free of charge, confidential, and are available to anyone directly or indirectly affected as well as their confidants, supervisors, and advocates. Are there gender equality and diversity counseling services? Yes, Unit 04 - Antidiscrimination and Equal Opportunities offers a large selection of counseling services on varying topics regarding gender equality and diversity. I don’t know many people at the university yet and feel lonely. How do I meet new people? Beginning a degree represents the start of a new chapter in life, which is often accompanied by many changes. Especially at the beginning, it can be a challenge to meet new people and get used to the new environment. We have compiled a few ideas that can help in this situation: The University of Bremen offers many opportunities for student engagement. An overview of the many groups and initiatives can be found here: Student Involvement - Universität Bremen The University of Bremen’s student representatives and the AStA provide meeting points, advice, and opportunities for your own projects and student involvement. There are many cultural events on campus, such as those by the theater, choir, orchestra, and big band. These groups invite you to participate or to contribute your own ideas. You can find further information at: Art and Culture Team sports, dancing, acrobatics: The website for Hochschulsport e.V. has many inexpensive sports courses: The Foreign Language Centre offers courses in more than 20 languages. Those interested in media and communications can participate in various media-related projects at the University of Bremen: CampusTV (in German only) Online MAGAZINE KROSSE (in German only) Scheinwerfer - Bremen’s free university magazine (in German only): https://scheinwerfer.uni-bremen.de/ Workshops, readings, info days: An overview of the diverse range of events offered at the University of Bremen can be found in our event calendar The kompass team of the International Office supports international students in networking, exchanging ideas and planning joint projects and events in international communities: kompass - Universität Bremen Orientation, application, changing a degree program – is there a contact point for this? Which degree program is the right one for me? How do I enroll? Did I choose the right degree program? The Central Student Advisory Service provides information and advice on these and all other questions relating to your degree – regardless of whether you are already enrolled or whether your application is still pending. Further information: https://www.uni-bremen.de/en/zsb I find it difficult to be organized in studying, understanding the learning material, or preparing for exams. Where do I find support? A lot of things at the university are new and can seem confusing at first. Under the heading Help & Support, we have listed the most important contact points for students that you can turn to in various situations: https://www.uni-bremen.de/en/unistart/help-support #for-employees0 I have health problems. What can I do? The occupational health service is here to answer your questions pertaining to Ergonomics (workspace design, workplaces, work equipment, personal protective equipment) Risk assessments (in cooperation with supervisors and occupational safety specialists), and we'll take appropriate workplace health precautions (including testing) Maternity protection regulations and providing advice for pregnant women Occupational integration management (BEM) as well as in the gradual reintegration of employees after a long illness (especially if special organizational measures or workplace conversions are needed) Workplace-related illnesses, mental and psychosomatic problems of employees Setting health-friendly working hours You can find more information here (in German only): https://www.uni-bremen.de/betriebsarzt/leistungen Occupational health management (OHSM) is all about creating a healthy work environment. It analyzes working conditions and how these affect health, as well as looking at available resources. It also seeks to empower employees to adopt a healthy lifestyle. Having healthy and motivated employees is vital to the success of the university. Further information: https://www.uni-bremen.de/en/workplace-health-management-whm You can find tips and information for a healthy working life during your academic qualification phase on the Bremen Early Career Researcher Development (BYRD) website: https://www.uni-bremen.de/en/byrd/doctoral-researchers/taking-care-of-yourself I am having mental health issues and I am not well. Where can I get help? The In-House Social Counseling Service offers psychosocial counseling and coaching for employees and supervisors. You can contact the company social counseling service if you have questions or problems relating to your work environment, concerns from your personal life, need information, or are having health problems. The service is strictly confidential. Further information: https://www.uni-bremen.de/en/sozialberatung The University of Bremen’s MHFA team can offer initial care for mental health issues. MHFA stands for Mental Health First Aid and is a training program that gives laypersons the necessary skills to provide first aid for mental health issues and to manage crises until professional health is available. Since November 2023, the University of Bremen has provided mental health first aid training to volunteer employees. They are available to talk to you and ready to help. These easy-access conversations are treated with the utmost confidentiality, can be scheduled on short notice, and are considered a short-term service. You can find more information at the Workplace Health Management Office website: https://www.uni-bremen.de/en/workplace-health-management-whm/services-of-the-whm/mental-health You can also contact the occupational healthcare service . They advise on various workplace-related issues with health implications, including those related to employees' mental health and psychosomatic problems: https://www.uni-bremen.de/en/betriebsarzt The Addiction Prevention Office works on the basis of a service agreement for the prevention of addiction and for managing abnormalities in the workplace. These services are aimed at those affected, at employees who are indirectly affected through their family members, as well as at managers and supervisors in light of addiction prevention tasks in personnel management, occupational health and safety and care. By law, these consultations are subject to strict confidentiality. This also applies to other positions within the university. Further information (in German only): https://www.uni-bremen.de/suchtpraevention In acute crises , please contact one of the following institutions: Telephone Crisis Hotline Bremen: 0800 - 11 101 11 (available 24/7, anonymous, free of charge, and also has email and chat services, in German only) Website: https://www.kirche-bremen.de/kirche-in-bremen/verschiedene-einrichtungen/seelsorge/telefonseelsorge/ Telephone Crisis Hotlines in English: 030 - 44 01 06 07 (available daily from 6:00 p.m. until 12:00 a.m. for psychological or personal problems, free of charge) +44 116 123 (UK number, available 24/7, international phone charges may apply) Website: www.samaritans.org (available 24/7, anonymous, email services) Website: www.lifeline.org.au/ (available 24/7, anonymous, also has text and chat services) Social Psychiatric and Crisis Intervention Service Bremen : If you need in-person counseling, please contact one of the five counseling centers for social psychiatric services (South, Center, West, East, North), depending on where you live. Office hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. You can find phone numbers and addresses on the health department website https://www.gesundheitsamt.bremen.de/was-wir-bieten/gesundheitsvorsorge-und-unterstuetzung/fuer-erwachsene/seelische-gesundheit-und-sucht-23659 (in German only). The crisis intervention service (KID) is also available by telephone for emergencies on weekdays from 3:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m. and weekends and holidays from 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Call: 0421 800582-33 Klinikum Bremen-Ost If you need to be admitted to a psychiatric hospital, please contact the Bremen-Ost clinic. 0421 408-0 Main office Nachtwerk Bremen: Nachtwerk offers immediate help for mental crises and stressful situations for those who are directly and indirectly affected and their relatives and provides qualified counseling and support. Their services include a crisis hotline (0421 957 00 310 / Mon - Fri from 9:00 p.m. to 8:30 a.m., Sat and Sun and on holidays from 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 a.m.), a night cafe (Helgolander Straße 73) and they can provide overnight accommodation in cases of acute danger. Further information: https://www.nachtwerk-bremen.de/ (in German only) Emergency medical service: 116 117 Medical assistance is available all hours of the day, free of charge (116 117) Website: https://www.116117.de/de/aerztlicher-bereitschaftsdienst.php In case of imminent danger that requires immediate attention, you can also contact the police (phone number 110) or the responsible fire department and emergency services center (phone number 112) to have an ambulance sent. I feel stressed in my everyday work and / or personal life. Is there someone who will listen to me and offer counseling? In-House Social Counseling Service offers psychosocial counseling and coaching for employees and supervisors. You can contact the in-house social counseling service if you have work-related questions or problems, with concerns from your private life, factual questions or health problems. These services are strictly confidential by law. Further information: https://www.uni-bremen.de/sozialberatung I am looking for tips and strategies for more resilience in everyday work On the Occupational Health Management (OHS) page you will find videos and online tools with helpful tips and strategies for promoting your mental health: https://www.uni-bremen.de/en/workplace-health-management-whm/services-of-the-whm/mental-health In addition, the OHS offers numerous other information, impulses and offers for the design of healthy work routines, such as active breaks and renting mobile massage equipment for the workplace: https://www.uni-bremen.de/en/workplace-health-management-whm/services-of-the-whm You can find tips and information for a healthy working life in the scientific qualification phase on the Bremen Early Career Researcher Development (BYRD) website: https://www.uni-bremen.de/en/byrd/doctoral-researchers/taking-care-of-yourself I would like to provide mental health first aid or become a contact person in my work environment. How do I do this? The university provides MHFA first responder training with its own 12-hour courses (2 appointments of 6 hours each). MHFA stands for Mental Health First Aid and is a training program that gives laypersons the necessary skills to provide first aid for mental health issues and to manage crises until professional health is available. The number of participants is limited. Further information can be found at the Workplace Health Management Office website: https://www.uni-bremen.de/en/workplace-health-management-whm/services-of-the-whm/mental-health I was on sick leave for a long time and now I want to get back to work. Are there any support services for this? The occupational healthcare service advises you on all questions relating to company integration management and the gradual reintegration of employees after a long illness (especially if special organizational measures or workplace modifications are required). Further information: https://www.uni-bremen.de/en/betriebsarzt Affected employees can contact the integration management team. The team is independent, interdisciplinary and specially trained. The human resource department provides the integration management team with information about prolonged incapacity for work. They contact the employees concerned and inform them about their options. If the employee agrees, an individual and confidential conversation will serve to clarify what the health problems are, where the causes lie and how the health situation can be improved for the individual as well as for the workplace. Further information (in German only): https://www.uni-bremen.de/bem Are there any support services for me in my role as a caregiver and / or if I am expecting a child? The Family Service Office is the first point of contact for questions about pregnancy during studies, childcare, and caring for relatives. In addition, it offers various exchange and networking opportunities, such as a regular caregivers’ meeting: https://www.uni-bremen.de/en/familie/caring-for-relatives/family-caregiver-support-group Further information can be found here: https://www.uni-bremen.de/en/familie/family-care-office Please contact the human resource department to notify them of a pregnancy and take appropriate measures (website in German only): https://www.uni-bremen.de/dezernat2/service-a-z/s/schwangerschaft You will receive pregnancy advice from the occupational health and safety units . Contact the occupational health service in case of special questions as well: https://www.uni-bremen.de/betriebsarzt/ich-brauche/ich-brauche-beratung-wegen-schwangerschaft# A collection of information for university members with family responsibilities can also be found here: https://www.uni-bremen.de/en/familie I have experienced discrimination, conflict, or violence. Whom can I contact? The Advisory & Information Centre on Discrimination and Violence (ADE) advises on all forms of discrimination, conflicts, and violence. ADE is responsible for all students and employees of the University of Bremen the core administration of the public services sector, and all universities (Hochschule Bremen - City University of Applied Sciences, University of the Arts Bremen, Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences) in the state of Bremen. These services are free of charge and confidential and are available to anyone directly or indirectly affected as well as their confidants, supervisors, and advocates. Further information can be found on the ADE Website. https://www.uni-bremen.de/en/ade Are there counseling services on the topics of gender equality and diversity? Yes, Unit 04 - Antidiscrimination and Equal Opportunities offers a large selection of counseling services on varying topics regarding gender equality and diversity. Further information: https://www.uni-bremen.de/en/chancengleichheit/services?sword_list%5B0%5D=manager&cHash=0bff7f644535c0733059870fe1b554e3 #overview_counseling_services0 Overview of Counseling Services Advisory and Information Centre on Discrimination and Violence (ADE) In-House Social Counseling Service (for employees) Family Care Office (Questions regarding pregnancy during a degree, childcare, and care of family members) Barrier-free degree initiative (BaS) of Faculty 11 Office for Students with Disabilities or Chronic Diseases (KIS) Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) First Responders Psychological Counseling Centre of the Studierendenwerk Bremen Studierendenwerk’s Social Counseling Services ( e.g. degree financing, student parents) Additional Support Services You can find additional support services on the following website. find out more: Additional Support Services more
