Suche
Mein Konto
Living library in Marburg: The future of mental health for young people!
In the Old Botanical Garden at the University of Marburg, over 300 students discussed mental health and stress management with psychology students.
Living library in Marburg: The future of mental health for young people!
On July 2, 2025, the “Living Library” project took place in the Old Botanical Garden of the Philipps University of Marburg. This innovative format gained in importance thanks to the participation of over 300 students from six Marburg schools. The event aims to promote personal exchange between students and psychology students.
The concept of the “Living Library” is based on international models, but was further developed specifically for young target groups. Psychology students act as “living books” that offer authentic access to mental health. This exchange aims to provide age-appropriate insights into psychological stress and convey healthy coping strategies.
Important aspects and goals of the event
The teachers Alina Oschwald and Pius Kern emphasize how important childhood and adolescence are for the development of coping strategies. The project pursues several goals:
- Vorurteile abbauen und offenen Umgang mit psychischen Belastungen fördern.
- Wissen über psychische Gesundheit und Informationen über Risiken und Schutzfaktoren bereitstellen.
- Wege zur Stärkung der seelischen Widerstandskraft aufzeigen.
Since its launch in 2019, the Living Library has aimed to strengthen youth mental health. The topics of the 2025 edition range from concentration and social skills to emotion regulation and problem solving. Particular attention is also paid to the challenges that have arisen from the pandemic and current crises.
The current situation of adolescent mental health
The 2023 Children's Health Report shows that children and young people in Germany suffer greatly from psychological stress. There are over eight million young people affected, with girls in particular often showing symptoms such as depression and anxiety disorders. The pandemic has further exacerbated the situation, as have new concerns brought about by, for example, the war in Ukraine and the climate crisis.
Experts draw attention to the overload of the health, school and youth welfare systems and urgently call for preventive, life-oriented offers. Waiting times for therapy places are often too long, which leads to inadequate care. The report also emphasizes the need to integrate mental health into the curriculum and promote mental health professionals and school psychologists.
The phenomenon of climate anxiety is particularly worrying. A survey shows that 59 percent of 16 to 25 year olds are very worried about climate change. This fear is not classified as a mental illness, but can motivate young people to take an active role in climate protection.
In conclusion, it should be noted that the “Living Library” is not only an important source of information, but also represents a contemporary format to help young people deal with their mental health issues. The combination of personal exchange and professional knowledge could make a decisive contribution to strengthening resilience among young people and reducing the stigmatization of mental health problems.
For more information about the mental health of children and young people, the reports can be found on the websites of University of Marburg, Medical Journal and BPTK can be viewed.