Mental health

Seelische Gesundheit
Picture: ipopba/istockphoto

Health is an important asset. This applies not only to physical health, but also to mental health.
Mentally ill people experience discrimination in everyday life even more frequently than physically impaired people.

Yet many mental illnesses are preventable. This is where prevention comes into play, especially for children and young people, as the majority of all mental illnesses begin before the age of 20.

Figures show that:

  • 20% of 13 to 18-year-olds have mental health problems
  • around two to three million adolescents have at least one parent with a mental illness
  • 90% of young people who die by suicide previously had a mental illness

Further information:

Online help offers:

Prevention programmes - Mental health:

"Treasure Hunt" parent programme (training for daycare professionals)

You will be able to implement the parent programme safely and competently in your facilities.

"Treasure Hunt" is a parent programme that focuses adults' attention on children's strengths and protective factors. Mental well-being is promoted by strengthening resilience. The parent programme comprises six meetings. Creative methods and materials create a pleasant atmosphere and motivate parents on their journey. Treasure Hunt is therefore a low-threshold programme for all parents.

Next qualification programmes:

Coming soon again in Chemnitz. Dates in other regions of Saxony.

The qualification costs 350 euros per participant - including a media package for the daycare centre. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis and the training courses take place over a full day.

Contact: City of Chemnitz, Office for Health and Prevention, Katrin Ehnert, Tel. 0371 488-5387, send e-mail

Further information: Saxon State Association for Health Promotion

Further training for professionals in schools

One-day training programme for teachers and school social workers at primary schools, secondary schools and grammar schools. MindMatters helps schools to make a contribution to improving school quality by promoting the mental health of pupils and teachers.

What does MindMatters want to achieve?

  • Develop a school culture that makes all school members feel safe, valued and included
  • Improve the working conditions and health of teachers
  • Improve the learning conditions and health of pupils

Free training is available for the following modules:

  • Modules for primary schools
  • Modules for secondary schools and grammar schools

There is also detailed information material on

  • Making, keeping and belonging to friends
  • "Dealing with stress - staying in balance"
  • "Bullying? - Not in our school!"
  • "Backbone for the soul"
  • "How's it going?" - Learning to understand mental disorders at school
  • "Fit for training and work!" - Shaping the transition with mental health

Information material for schools can be ordered free of charge: www.mindmatters-schule.de/materialbestellung.

Training courses

New MindMatters training courses are held regularly in Chemnitz. The next event for secondary schools will take place on 21 March 2024 in Chemnitz . You are welcome to make a reservation for this date. You can find more information here.

Contact: City of Chemnitz, Office for Health and Prevention, Katrin Ehnert, Tel. 0371 488-5387, send e-mail

Further information: www.mindmatters-schule.de