Mental Health Challenges & Crises: Where to Find Support

If you are feeling mentally or emotionally overwhelmed, you can contact the counseling services offered by the student unions (Studierendenwerke). You can schedule an appointment – if needed, also by phone or video – and talk confidentially and free of charge about your situation, such as stress related to your studies, anxiety, or personal challenges:

• Munich/Garching: Psychotherapeutic and psychosocial counseling of the Studierendenwerk München Oberbayern
• Freising/Weihenstephan: Psychotherapeutic counseling of the Studierendenwerk München Oberbayern
• Straubing: Psychological counseling of the Studierendenwerk Niederbayern/Oberpfalz
• Heilbronn: Psychosocial counseling of the Heidelberg Student Union

Your family doctor is also a good first point of contact. Together you can clarify what further steps might be useful.

If you are in an acute crisis and need help immediately, you will find important contact points in the section "Immediate help in acute emergencies" on this page.

Yes. Conversations in psychological counseling, as well as with your general practitioner (family doctor), are confidential. Counselors and doctors are bound by confidentiality. This means that the content of the discussions will not be passed on to the university or any other parties.

The counseling has no impact on your studies. You can talk openly about your situation and consider together what support could be helpful for you.

Yes, in many cases counseling is available in English. If you would prefer to speak in English, you can indicate this when scheduling an appointment.

If you need counseling in another language, it’s best to contact the respective counseling service directly. They can let you know whether counseling is available in that language or what alternatives there may be.

You can talk about anything that is currently weighing on you.Psychological counseling can support you, for example, with:

• Stress or feeling overwhelmed in your studies

• Exam anxiety or lack of motivation

• Anxiety, depressive moods or loneliness

• Conflicts in relationships, family or friends

• Addiction or other personal challenges

Together with a counselor, you will look at your situation and explore which next steps or support options might be helpful for you.

Yes. TUM offers a range of services to help you manage stress during your studies and strengthen your mental health.

• In Academic Coaching, for example, ou can learn how to structure your study routine, cope with exam stress, and set realistic goals.
• TUM4Mind offers workshops, courses, and events on topics related to mental health, such as stress management, resilience, and self-care.
• At the TUM House of Health, you can find an overview of many health services at TUM (German), including counseling services, workshops, and programs focused on physical activity, stress management, and overall well-being during your studies.

If you would like to start psychotherapy, the following services can help you in your search:

• Appointment service center of the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians in Bavaria (KVB)
  You can make an appointment there for an initial diagnostic consultation (psychotherapeutic consultation). The KVB's Psychotherapy Coordination Office (German) will support you in your further search for a therapy place. Similar services are also available through the Associations of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians in other federal states.

• Online search portals
  Portals such as therapie.de or the Psychotherapieinformationsdienst will help you to find therapists in your area.

• Further training institutes for psychotherapy
  Some institutes offer therapy places with psychologists in advanced training. You can also find an overview of the institutes at www.therapie.de.

Further information can be found in the guide to psychotherapy from the Federal Chamber of Psychotherapists.

In Germany, several evidence-based approaches to psychotherapy are recognized. The most common include:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
  This approach focuses on changing current patterns of thinking and behavior. Together with your therapist, you develop strategies to better cope with difficult thoughts, feelings, or situations

• Depth psychology-based psychotherapy
  This is more concerned with understanding unconscious conflicts or experiences from earlier phases of your life that are still influencing your experience or behavior today.

• Analytical psychotherapy (psychoanalysis)
  This method works more intensively with unconscious processes and their influence on your current life. Treatment usually takes longer than with other methods.

• Systemic therapy
  It also looks at psychological stress in the context of relationships and living environment, such as family, studies or work.

How does psychotherapy work?
At the beginning, you will get to know the therapist in a few initial meetings. You will talk about your situation and clarify together whether therapy makes sense and which form is most suitable.

If you decide to undergo treatment, the sessions usually take place once a week and last around 50 minutes. The duration and course of therapy depend on your concerns and the chosen form of therapy

The first appointment gives you space to talk about what is currently weighing on you. The counselor or therapist will ask questions to better understand your situation, for example:

• what complaints or difficulties you have
• how long they have existed
• how they manifest themselves in everyday life or in your studies
• what you have done so far to deal with it

Sometimes questionnaires or short psychological tests are also used to obtain an initial assessment.

Based on this, you will discuss together what kind of support might be helpful—such as counseling sessions, psychotherapy, or other services.

Counseling at the Studierendenwerk (student union)

At the psychological counseling services offered by the Studierendenwerke, your situation can be discussed in a confidential setting. Sessions are free of charge, can be anonymous if you prefer, and no health insurance card is required.

Typically, up to three sessions of 50 minutes are available. The focus is on understanding your situation and exploring possible ways forward. If further treatment is recommended, support is provided in finding suitable options.

Psychotherapeutic consultation

If you have an appointment with a psychotherapist, the process usually begins with an initial consultation. This is used to assess whether a mental health condition may be present and whether psychotherapy is appropriate.

The consultation may consist of several appointments (up to six sessions of 25 minutes each).

Waiting times depend on the type of service you use.

Psychological counseling at the Studierendenwerke (student unions)
You can usually expect to wait around two to three weeks for an initial consultation.

Psychotherapy with a therapist
Waiting times for psychotherapy can range from several weeks to several months. In many cases, you will first be offered an initial consultation, where your situation is discussed and the next steps are clarified.

If you have statutory health insurance, you can use the appointment services provided by the Associations of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians. These can help you find an initial consultation more quickly. You will usually receive an appointment within one week, and the consultation typically takes place within the following four weeks.

You can also find additional contact details and support services for students in this overview provided by the Studierendenwerk München Oberbayern (student union).

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Yes, psychotherapy is also available in English or other languages. Many therapists indicate the languages they offer sessions in. On the website of the Bavarian Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KVB) for example, you can filter by location, type of therapy, or language.

Please note: Depending on the region, availability in certain languages may be limited. It may therefore be helpful to contact several practices or expand your search to a wider area.

If you have statutory or private health insurance in Germany, the costs of your psychotherapy are usually covered. A requirement is that treatment is provided by a therapist who is approved by statutory health insurance.

You generally do not need a referral. At the beginning, you usually make an appointment for a psychotherapeutic consultation. Together with the therapist, you will discuss whether therapy would be helpful and which type of treatment is suitable for your situation.

If you have international or specialized student health insurance, different rules may apply. If in doubt, it’s best to check directly with your insurance provider to find out whether and to what extent costs are covered..

You can also use the psychological counseling services offered by the Studierendenwerk (student union). These sessions are free of charge and can be a first step in discussing your situation and exploring possible next steps.

If your insurance does not cover the costs, you can also choose to pay for therapy yourself.

If you would like to start psychotherapy as an international student, your health insurance, the language of therapy, and the availability of appointments are key factors.

• Health insurance
  • If you have German statutory health insurance (e.g. TK, AOK or Barmer), this will generally cover the costs of psychotherapy.
  • If you have private or foreign health insurance, you should clarify in advance whether and to what extent psychotherapy is covered. In some cases, you may need to pay for treatment upfront and then submit a claim to your insurance provider.
• Language of therapy
  There are a number of therapists who also offer treatment in English. However, therapy places in other languages are often limited.
• Waiting times
  Waiting times for a therapy place can be several months. It’s best to start your search as early as possible and contact several practices.

Usually not. In Germany, you can schedule an appointment directly with a psychotherapist. You generally do not need a referral from your general practitioner (family doctor).

At the first appointment – the initial consultation – you will talk about your situation and explore together whether therapy would be helpful. If longer-term treatment follows, the therapist will usually take care of the necessary steps with your health insurance provider.

For international students:
You can also schedule an appointment directly. Your health insurance is the key factor. If you are covered by a German statutory health insurance provider, the costs of psychotherapy are usually covered.

If you have private or international health insurance, coverage depends on your specific plan. It’s best to check with your insurance provider in advance to find out whether and to what extent psychotherapy is covered.

If you are unsure whether your health insurance will cover psychotherapy, you can contact the following:

Your health insurance provider
Your health insurance provider is the primary point of contact for questions about coverage. They can tell you whether psychotherapy is covered, to what extent, and what requirements apply. 

Psychological counseling of the Studierendenwerk (student union)
The counseling services offered by the Studierendenwerke are familiar with support options for students and can help you understand what options are available and who you can contact.

If you realize that you may not be able to take an exam or meet a deadline because of your situation, there are several options at TUM:

• Withdraw from an exam
  If you are unable to take an exam – for example due to health reasons , including mental health challenges – you can apply to withdraw from an examination. Contact the relevant Examination Board as soon as possible. You will usually need to provide proof, such as a medical certificate.

• Extend or suspend deadlines
  If you If your situation affects you over a longer period of time, deadlines may be extended or suspended in certain cases. To do so, you will usually need to submit an application to the Examination Board responsible for your degree program.

• Seek advice
  If your situation is having a greater impact on your studies, it’s best to contact General Student Advising as early as possible. They can help you explore what options are available to you.

Yes, if you are temporarily unable to continue your studies due to health reasons – including mental health challenges – you can apply for a leave of absence.

This means:

• You pause your studies for one semester, but remain enrolled.

• You submit an application to TUM’s Application and Enrollment Office. As a rule, you must submit proof of the reason, such as a medical certificate.

• A lleave of absence is granted for one semester at a time and should generally not exceed two semesters.

If you do not want to pause your studies for an entire semester, other options may be available depending on your situation, such as withdrawing from exams or extending deadlines.

No. Mental health challenges do not, in themselves, affect your place at university.

If your situation makes it difficult to meet exam requirements, deadlines, or continue your studies as planned, there are various options available – for example, withdrawing from examinations, extending deadlines, or taking a leave of absence.

It’s important to seek information and advice as early as possible if your situation is likely to affect your studies. This allows you to explore what options are available for your degree program.

If mental health challenges are affecting your studies, you don’t have to deal with them alone. There are several services at TUM that can support you:

• General Student Advising
  Here you can confidentially discuss how your situation is affecting your studies and what options are available to adapt your study plan.

• Examination board of your degree program
  The examination board is responsible for decisions regarding exam regulations, deadlines, and formal applications.

• Departmental student advising
  The Departmental student advising can help you with questions about planning your studies, such as adapting your study plan or choosing modules.