A fifth of Germans are impacted by the country's latest illness outbreak
In Germany, the project "Berufliches Übergangsmanagement" (BUM) is making a significant difference in the lives of working-age individuals treated in facilities across Weissenau, Wangen, Friedrichshafen, and the day clinic of Arkade Pauline 13. Funded by Aktion Mensch since 2021, this initiative aims to facilitate the transition between clinic stay and working life for mentally ill individuals.
The rise in depression among working-age adults in Germany is influenced by a variety of factors, including prolonged unemployment, economic and social stressors, and the aftereffects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has globally increased mental health burdens by approximately 25%. Other contributing factors include socioeconomic and demographic variables, environmental stressors, and behavioral risk factors such as exposure to violence and bullying.
To address this growing issue, Germany has initiated targeted interventions like the JOBS Program Germany and the Leipzig-Individual Placement and Support for People with Mental Illness (LIPSY) project. These programs provide job-search skills training, psychological support, mentoring, low-threshold mental health screening, diagnostics, and referrals to care systems for long-term unemployed with mental health issues.
One such individual who has benefited from the BUM project is Elena Schmidt, a 40-year-old who previously worked in the catering industry. Schmidt struggled with depression due to irregular working hours, split shifts, weekend shifts, overtime, and a deteriorating relationship with her boss. After a ten-week stay in a day clinic and a diagnosis of depression in 2023, Schmidt discovered the BUM project and is now retraining as a commercial management assistant in Isny with regular working hours and free weekends.
The BUM project offers career orientation, application for rehabilitation services, and assistance in returning to a previous occupation for those who need new paths. Selina Loew, a key figure in the project, helps with application submission and accompanies clients beyond therapy, including assistance with funding from the Federal Employment Agency, German Pension Insurance, and statutory health insurers.
Feedback from clients indicates the importance of creating concrete follow-up prospects during the clinic stay for more participation, stability, and quality of life. The project has been in operation for over three years, during which 315 people have been helped, and will continue until the end of August 2026.
Integrating a mental illness into long-term sustainable employment is challenging, but with adequate support, it is usually possible to find an individually suitable offer. The BUM project is a testament to this, providing a much-needed bridge between mental health treatment and the workforce for those who need it most.
- Elena Schmidt decided to apply for the BUM project to help her transition back to work in the health-and-wellness sector, using the scientific knowledge and resources provided to improve her mental health.
- As the BUM project continues to make a difference, it is crucial to extend these science-backed health-and-mental health programs to more facilities across Germany, reducing the burden of depression among working-age adults.
