Kopfsachen e.V.

Kopfsachen e.V. is a non-profit organization that has been fully dedicated to promoting the mental health of young people since 2020. The mission of the organization is to create a society in which all people are empowered to engage openly and competently with their mental health. This is achieved through scientifically based educational formats and workshops specifically tailored to the needs of students, parents, and school staff[1][3][4].

• Workshops and Educational Formats: Kopfsachen offers a variety of workshops conducted in schools. These workshops teach the fundamentals of mental health competence and methods for actively promoting mental health. They are aimed at students from seventh to twelfth grade, as well as teachers and parents[1][3][4].
• Mental Health Ambassador Program: The program enables small, dedicated project teams at various schools to receive in-depth training in the field of mental health promotion and to implement measures in their own school over several months[2].
• Digital Support: A Digital Companion is in development, which aims to allow participants to deepen and transfer the workshop content beyond the workshops[2].
• MHFA Courses: Kopfsachen offers Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) courses that empower people to act competently in challenging situations and provide the right support[3].

• School-Based Programs: Kopfsachen focuses on school-based programs, which according to the WHO are one of the most effective strategies for improving mental health in a society. By integrating into everyday school life, the school is to become a support place for young people[2][4].
• Holistic Approach: The organization pursues a holistic approach that includes workshops with students, school staff, and digital support. This approach aims to promote a cultural shift towards a health-promoting education system[1][2][3].
• Political and Social Engagement: Kopfsachen is politically and socially engaged to secure more public funding for prevention and health promotion and to bring the topic of mental health out of the taboo zone[2][4].

The interdisciplinary team of Kopfsachen consists of professionally trained workshop leaders with backgrounds in psychology, business administration, and software development. The organization has locations in Berlin, Cologne, and Hamburg and plans to establish further locations in Germany. The team works partially remotely and is distributed across Germany[1][3][5].

Kopfsachen has been awarded the German Engagement Prize in the category "Creating Opportunities" and the startsocial Special Prize of the Federal Chancellor. These awards underline the commitment and effectiveness of the organization in promoting the mental health of young people[3][4].

The organization is funded through foundation grants, private donations, and subsidies from health insurance companies. Additional support is provided to Kopfsachen by organizations such as the Deutsche Postcode Lotterie, which supports the workshop offerings and new projects[3][4].

Kopfsachen e.V. continuously works to adapt its offerings to the needs of students and school staff and is highly motivated and proactive in advocating for the mental health of young people. Through its diverse initiatives and workshops, the organization makes an important contribution to creating a healthier and more resilient society.

• 1 - https://kopfsachen.org/ueber-uns/
• 2 - https://kopfsachen.org/files/Kopfsachen_Jahresbericht_2023.pdf
• 3 - https://kopfsachen.org
• 4 - https://www.berliner-woche.de/mitte/c-bildung/verein-kopfsachen-foerdert-die-mentale-gesundheit-von-kindern-und-jugendlichen_a402651
• 5 - https://kopfsachen.org/bewerben