Balancing Minds in Science (4) - Mental health in academia

This online series aims to shed light on the challenges that researchers (or others working in an academic environment) face in their daily lives and to understand strategies that foster resilience, balance, and health within this demanding landscape.
 

Our 4th session will be given by Dr. Hendrik Huthoff on ‘Mental health in academia – personal experience and becoming a mental health advocate’. It will take place on February 25, 2026, 11:00 – 12:30 via Zoom.

Abstract: During his chemistry studies and his PhD infectious diseases research at the University of Amsterdam, Hendrik Huthoff developed a severe anxiety disorder that had a major impact on his life despite finding ways of successfully completing his scientific work. As a research group leader at King’s College London, he was the departmental wellbeing officer and assisted with instances of mental health problems of students.  In 2020, he set up the first Mental Health First Aid team in Germany at the University of Jena and co-chaired the mental health working group within the German University Association UniWinD. In his talk, he draws on personal and organisational experiences to explore how work environments and power structures influence mental health, and he advocates for a supportive culture that promotes wellbeing at work. Currently, he is the Customer Success Manager at Habmann Aufstiegsakademie which offers professional trainings and qualification.

For the Zoom link go to: https://www.ifss.kit.edu/bgm/231.php#Anker1

We warmly encourage you to bring your lunch, tune in, and invest in your well-being as a vital part of your scientific journey. If you have suggestions for topics you’d like us to address in the future, please feel free to contact us or write it in the chat once we meet for the talk.
 

Elija Bleher (KIT/IMK-IFU, IFU Graduate Program)
Sylvia Kratz (KIT/IMK-IFU)
Claudia Hildebrand (KIT/IfSS, Coordination of KIT Health Management)