Our Approach: Health Is Built Through Empowerment
The project is based on the concept of salutogenesis, which focuses on the development and maintenance of health. Rather than focusing on deficits, the program emphasizes students’ resources, protective factors, and personal strengths.
Based on the four pillars of mental health, Mind Matters will gradually develop a comprehensive program:
1. Self-efficacy
A primary goal of the project is to empower students to actively, independently, and healthily manage their studies and daily lives. To this end, a series of programs will be developed to promote self-management, decision-making skills, and peer-to-peer support. Particular attention will be given to students facing challenging life circumstances, as well as to structurally disadvantaged or particularly vulnerable groups.
2. Social network
Social connectedness is a key protective factor for mental health. The project will focus on further developing or creating new spaces for interaction, platforms for dialogue, and support networks. At the same time, it is intended to raise greater awareness of discrimination, stigmatization, and power dynamics in the higher education context—particularly with regard to vulnerable groups.
3. Self-care
Supporting self-care and resilience is another key pillar. The plan is to gradually develop programs focused on stress management, mindfulness, self-management, time management, and relaxation techniques, which can eventually be integrated into existing structures.
4. Finding Meaning | Advice & Support
A sense of meaning and goal orientation plays a central role in motivation and mental well-being. Over time, programs focused on future planning, personal development, and mentoring will be developed to help students actively shape their own educational and life paths.
Mind Matters is currently being launched. The goal is to develop sustainable structures, needs-based services, and robust networks for student mental health over the coming years and to integrate them permanently into the University of Bamberg.