Counseling Services for Students and Employees

General advice and social counselling

• The LMU Central Student Advisory Office helps with any worries and questions about studying at LMU.
• The International Office supports you with all information about your studies in munich.
• The Munich Student Union offers personal, as well as telephone or video counselling sessions.
• Bildungsbrücke China-Deutschland e.V. (PDF, 1,420 KB) provides online-advice via a hotline specially for asian students.
• The LMU Preparatory Program for Refugees prepares refugees and asylum seekers for their studies and provides social counseling and free German language courses.

Counselling services for female students

• The Women's Representative offers counseling for female academics, students, faculty women's representatives and women's representatives at Bavarian universities.

Counselling services for students with disabilities

• The Office for Disability Services, Central Student Advisory Office offers assistance with everyday student life and serves as a networking platform for exchange with other students.

Special counselling services for international students

• The International Office offers Social Support for International Students.
• The International Office offers counselling for refugees and asylum seekers.
• ThePastoral care: counseling and accompaniment helps in crisis situations, difficult study phases or pastoral questions.
• The Catholic University Community offers networking possibilities, scholarship guidance and counseling in german, english, french and spanish.

Counselling services for student parents

• The Student Parent Office provides useful tips and information about raising a child while studying.

Counselling services in crisis situations, psychological and personal challenges

• The Psychotherapeutic and Psychosocial Counselling Service, Munich Student Union provides professional counselling and individual support for various difficult situations.
• The Support Groups for Change offer groups on psychological stress for open exchange between students and active help for self-help.

• Getting ready to study: events and open days

The site "WeCare@LMU" contains detailed information about further events in German.

• Assistance in case of financial difficulty (LMU Nothilfe).
  International students and doctoral candidates at LMU, who face unexpected financial need, can apply for one-time financial assistance (650 euros) at the International Office at LMU. The assistance is funded by the State of Bavaria.
• Dynamic support fund for Ukraine.
  International students, doctoral candidates and researchers at LMU, who have been financially affected by the war in Ukraine, can apply for financial assistance at the International Office.The assistance is funded by LMU.
• Emergency fund for international students.
  For further information please contact Dr. Friedemann Steck via E-Mail.

• Center for Leadership and People Management telephone consultation
  
  You have got a work-related question? Is there a challenging situation at your workplace you have to deal with?
  We are pleased to offer telephone consultation sessions, which are held on the first Wednesday of every month (10-12am). In a short telephone call (10-15 minutes) you can ask individual questions.
  
  If you are interested in this service, please contact Dr. Melissa Hehnen.
• The site "WeCare@LMU" contains detailed information about the events as well as the contact details (German).

• Assistance in Case of Financial Difficulty (LMU Nothilfe).
  International students and doctoral candidates at LMU, who face unexpected financial need, can apply for one-time financial assistance (650 euros) at the International Office at LMU. The assistance is funded by the State of Bavaria.
• Dynamic support fund for Ukraine.
  International students, doctoral candidates and researchers at LMU, who have been financially affected by the war in Ukraine, can apply for financial assistance at the International Office.The assistance is funded by LMU.
  

• The CUP Mental Health Initiative offers special services and advice for students and employees of the Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy.
  Counseling is provided by appointment with the MHFA-trained persons (see website) or by mail
  

If you have psychological symptoms or feel restricted in your daily life you should contact a psychotherapist.

General contact points:

• Your general practitioner can help you find suitable psychotherapeutic treatment.
• There is also a Coordination Office for Psychotherapy at the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians in Bavaria, which can help you find a therapy place.
• You can also contact psychotherapists in a private practice directly to make an appointment for a psychotherapeutic consultation.

In acute mental crisis situations, you can contact the emergency department of psychiatric clinics directly:

• Clinic and Polyclinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy: LMU Hospital, Nußbaumstraße 7, 80336 Munich, Tel. 089 4400 - 55511.
• Psychiatric Crisis Service: People in mental crises and relatives receive qualified counselling and support. Tel. 0180 - 655 3000. Daily. 0-24 h, website.
• Telephone counselling: The telephone counselling service offers advice on problems and crises in every life situation, Daily. 0-24 h. Tel. 0800 - 111 0 111 or 0800 - 111 0 222. Daily. 0-24 h.

Helpful online resources have been developed by various institutions and professional societies over the past 18 months during the pandemic and are freely available. The resources are diverse and in particular provide information on possible challenges and how to overcome them:

• Information and useful facts on coping with pandemic-related challenges from a psychological perspective are available on this page.

More specific material is also still available online, which provides concrete exercises.

• A working group of the Max Planck Institute for Psychiatry in Munich has developed a short self-help programme for dealing with social distancing, quarantine and exit restrictions that is scientifically sound and based on practically tested concepts.

Psychoeducational material

• Information material on the prevention of stress from the Canadian Mental Health Association (PDF, 235 KB).
• Booklet on how to manage stress from Mind (PDF, 512 KB)(the mental health charity for England and Wales)

Self-screening test

• The GAD-7 (PDF, 130 KB) test is used to assess the presence and severity of possible symptoms of generalised anxiety disorder.

• Information about anxiety disorders from "Ärztliches Zentrum für Qualität in der Medizin" (PDF, 356 KB) (PDF, 66 KB).
• The Neurozentrum Arabellapark provides information on anxiety disorders and explains therapy and treatment.

Self-screening test

• The PHQ-9 Test (PDF, 433 KB)serves as an instrument to get a first assessment of possible symptoms related to depression.

• Information about depression from "Ärztliches Zentrum für Qualität in der Medizin" (PDF, 66 KB).
• Information about depression from the Anxiety and Depression Associationof America (ADAA) (PDF, 1,412 KB)
• The iFightDepression online resource provides information and help for people with depression, their families and professionals.

Self-screening test

• The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) (PDF, 109 KB) provides an initial assessment and evaluation of possible alcohol abuse and dependence.
• The Compulsive Internet Use Scale (CIUS) (PDF, 69 KB) specifically aims to assess the extent of a possible internet addiction.

• An information guide about addiction from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (PDF, 870 KB)

• Personal advisory sessions (by phone/via Zoom)
  Who to contact: Student Advisory Service
  When and where: Monday-Wednesday, 9 a.m. – 12 noon
• Personal consulting, coaching and legal advice
  Who to contact: Munich Student Union
  When and where: See the Student Union website
• Holistic counseling, advice and support from qualified clerics
  Who to contact: Evangelical students’ community at LMU, students (Christian beliefs are not required on the part of students)
  When and where: At any time; contact us by e-mail.
• Advice and coaching
  Who to contact: Catholic students’ community at LMU (services for students, doctoral researchers and academic staff, irrespective of religious orientation)
  Advice can be provided in German, English, French or Spanish
  When and where: At any time; contact us by e-mail.

• Consultations for female students and academics by prior appointment
  Who to contact: University Women’s Officer
  When and where: Thursdays 9:30 a.m. – 12 noon, by prior appointment (over the phone)
• Anonymous consultation (by phone or in house) with the Women’s Emergency Hotline Munich at LMU
  Who to contact: LMU University Women’s Officer, in cooperation with the Frauennotruf München (Women’s Emergency Hotline Munich)
  When and where: 25.10., 29.11. and 20.12.2022; 24.01., 21.02. and 28.03.2023, 1-2 p.m.
• "Gewalt gegen Frauen" (Violence against Women) help line
  Who to contact: Bundesamt für Familie und zivilgesellschaftliche Aufgaben (Federal Ministry for Family and Civic Affairs)
  When and where: At any time – by phone, chat or e-mail
• Frauenhilfe München (Women’s Aid) – 24/7 telephone service
  Who to contact: Frauenhilfe München gemeinnützige GmbH
  When and where: At any time by phone: +49 89 35 48 30; consultations in person by prior appointment

Advice for students with disabilities and chronic conditions on the subjects of choosing courses and admission procedures, organizing issues such as leaves of absence and extended study periods, overcoming challenges during everyday student life and compensation for disadvantages.

• Barrier-free consultation: Advice and dialogue for students with disabilities
  Who to contact: Student Advisory Service office for students with disabilities and chronic conditions
  When and where: 24.10., 07.11., 14.11., 21.11., 28.11., 12.12.2022, 09.01., 30.01.2023, 9:30 - 11 a.m.
• Peer groups – Discussion group for students with chronic and/or mental illnesses, AD(H)S, autistic disorders, impaired hearing, impaired vision, impaired mobility
  Who to contact: Student Advisory Service office for students with disabilities and chronic conditions, students with disabilities/impairments
  When and where: At any time; contact us by e-mail
• Inclusion tutors – Peer-to-peer advice in the faculties
  Who to contact: Inclusion tutors, students with disabilities/impairments
  When and where: At any time; contact us by e-mail
• Individual consultations for students with disabilities
  Who to contact: Munich Student Union
  When and where: By prior appointment

General advisory services

• Open Zoom consultation for international students
  Who to contact: Advice on social welfare and scholarships at the International Office
  When and where: Thursdays, 9 - 10:30 a.m.
• Advice for international students
  Who to contact: Evangelical students‘ community at LMU, Dr. Friedmann Steck,
  students (Christian beliefs are not required on the part of those seeking advice)
  When and where: By prior appointment (by e-mail)
• Advice for international students
  Who to contact: Catholic students’ community at LMU, Denise Polaczuk (non-denominational advice)
  When and where: By prior appointment (by e-mail)

Advisory sevices regarding flight and migration

• Advice for international students of Asian origin
  Who to contact: Bildungsbrücke China-Deutschland e.V. (Sino-German Educational Bridge)
  When and where: Online hotline (PDF, 1,359 KB) via Zoom, every Thursday from 10 - 11:30 a.m.
• Open Zoom consultation for refugees
  Who to contact: Advice on social welfare and scholarships at the International Office
  When and where: Tuesdays, 2 - 3:30 p.m.

• Advice for international students from Africa, Asia and Latin America
  Who to contact: Caritas München, "Brücke" (Bridge)
  When and where: Consultations are available on Mondays (10:30 - 11:30 a.m.) and Wednesdays (4:00 - 5:00 p.m.)

Advice for parents, pregnant women and fathers-to-be who are studying, and for students in the family planning phase.

• Open offer of discussion and advisory consultations (in person/over the phone/by Zoom)
  Who to contact: Student Advisory Service office for students with children
  When and where: Monday-Wednesday, 9 a.m. - 12 noon
• Individual advisory consultations for students with children
  Who to contact: Munich Student Union
  When and where: At any time, by prior appointment
  
• Advisory service for pregnancy-related issues
  Who to contact: Munich Department of Health
  When and where: At any time, by prior appointment (over the phone)

• Psychotherapeutic and psychosocial advice
  Who to contact: Munich Student Union
  When and where: At any time, by prior appointment
• Coaching in stress situations and advice on personal problems of all kinds
  Who to contact: Evangelical students’ community at LMU.
  Target group: Students, doctoral researchers and employees, irrespective of their religious orientation
  When and where: At any time, by prior appointment (by e-mail)
• Listening line, anonymous and free of charge, run by Nightline München e.V.
  Who to contact: Nightline München e.V.
  (The Nightline staff are students working on a voluntary basis)
  When and where: Monday-Saturday, 9 p.m. - 00:30 a.m.
• Psychological consulting, coaching, advice and counseling regarding personal challenges in the context of studies, doctoral research and employment at LMU
  Who to contact: Catholic students’ community at LMU (service available to students, doctoral researchers and academic staff, irrespective of their religious orientation)
  When and where: At any time (contact by e-mail)

External self-help groups and services to help with psychological stress

• Online self-help group for students run by Campus for Change e.V
  Campus for Change e.V., an online-self-help group for students, can provide help in response to psychological stress during or outside the realms of academic studies. For more information, please visit the group’s website or its Instagram channel.
• Horizont e.V. (Horizon)
  Additional services to counteract feelings of loneliness and isolation are available from Horizonte e.V., an organization for people with depression. Its services are open to everyone who needs encouragement, good advice or to take their mind off things. Details of current projects are published on the organization‘s website , including projects specially for international students.