Conflict Support and Mental Health
A career in science can be rewarding, but it can also test emotional and psychological limits. Moreover, a safe and fair working environment is not only a basic right, but also an essential condition for doing our best work. The resources below offer valuable support regarding good scientific practice and conflict resolution, mental health, and boundary violations or discrimination in the workplace.
In order to strengthen research integrity and ensure adherence to standards, all Berlin universities have installed ombudspersons for questions and conflicts related to good scientific practice. Ombudspersons can also be contacted with questions, e.g., regarding conflicts of authorship, supervision conflicts, or power abuse.
Office for Research Integrity at the Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Departmental Ombudspersons at the Freie Universität Berlin
Investigation Committee for Scientific Misconduct at the Technische Universität
Good Scientific Practice and Ombudspersons at the Max Delbrück Center
Ombudsperson at the Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP)
Mental health has become an important topic not only for students and PhD candidates, but also for more advanced researchers. Various options for advice and support are available at the Berlin universities and others institutions:
Mental wellbeing project at the Freie Universität Berlin
Psychological counselling service at the Freie Universität zu Berlin
Psychological counselling fur students at the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Medicoach for medical students
Psychological counselling for staff at the Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin and the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin ] is offered through the Arbeitsmedizinische Zentrum (AMZ).
Psychotherapeutic Counselling of the studierendenwerk
The Einstein Center for Neurosciences Berlin also gives a good overview on mental health resources, e.g., preventive measures and self-help resources.
In cases of conflict related to, e.g., boundary violations (including sexual harassment and other forms of power abuse) or discrimination, the Berlin universities and non-university research institutions also have equal opportunity officers who can be consulted. All cases are treated confidentially.
Women and Equal Opportunities Officers at the Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin
The Women and Equal Opportunities Officers at the Charité also offer resources related to prevention and protection against boundary violations (including sexual harassment and discrimination, violence, bullying, and stalking) on the intranet (German only) and internet.
Chief Gender Equality Officer at the Freie Universität Berlin
Central Women’s Representative at the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Main Women and Gender Equality Officer at the Technische Universität Berlin
Gender Equality Officer at the Max Delbrück Center
Equal Opportunity Officer at the Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP)
Other resources
Brochure: Boundary Crossing, Boundary Violation, Setting Boundaries (English)
Brochure: Border Crossing / Border Violations / Delimitations (German)
General Act on Equal Treatment (AGG) (English)
General Equal Treatment Act (AGG) (German)