Research Project on Students’ Mental Health
What Support do Universities Offer?
- 11.05.2026
Students are facing increasing mental health pressures, with rising numbers of cases of depression and anxiety disorders. For the first time, psychosocial support services at universities and student welfare organisations in Germany are being systematically documented and analysed. The three-year collaborative project “PsychKOMPASS” at the University of Duisburg-Essen is led by Prof. Dr Jürgen Wasem and Dr Carina Abels from the Chair of Medical Management.
Despite growing demand for psychosocial support, there has so far been no systematic record of the counselling services available at German universities and student services organisations. 'PsychKOMPASS' aims to address this issue. Participants include the Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy at the LVR University Hospital Essen (University of Duisburg-Essen), and the CHE Centre for Higher Education Development. Several nationwide associations are supporting the project.
As part of a mixed-methods approach, the existing structures, content and accessibility of services across the country are being examined. At the same time, focus groups are being used to record and analyse the needs of students, particularly those from vulnerable groups such as students with disabilities. Based on these findings, the researchers will then identify potential barriers that could prevent students from accessing these services. Practical recommendations will then be derived from the results to improve and further develop the counselling services.
Funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space*, the project plays a key role in improving psychosocial support for students in Germany. Once the project is complete, its findings will be made available to universities, student services organisations, students and policymakers as an 'open access publication'.
* grant reference 16RBM3004A-B
Image: Group photo of the project partners (from left to right): Dr. Sigrun Nickel, Anna-Lena Thiele, Dr. rer. medic. Carina Abels, Univ.-Prof. Dr. Jürgen Wasem, Priv.-Doz. Dr. Alexander Bäuerle, Chantal Hermann, Ann-Kathrin Krenzer, Sophie Schulz genannt Menningmann
Further Information:
https://www.wihoforschung.de/wihoforschung/de/bmbf-projektfoerderung/foerderlinien/dritter_f%C3%B6rderaufruf/PsychKOMPASS.html (German only)
Prof. Dr. Jürgen Wasem, Medical Management, +49 201/18 3-4283, juergen.wasem@uni-due.de
Editor: Ann-Kathrin Krenzer, LVR University Hospital Essen, +49 201/43 87 55 220 (Mo-Tue) / 0201/43 87 55 216 (Wed-Fr), ann-kathrin.krenzer@lvr.de
