Mental Health Workshop: Strengthening the Scientific Mind

SMART has organized a full-day training on mental health in research for our doctoral researchers on Monday, December 8th. Dr. Bergner’s approach, tailored specifically to our program, integrates scientific evidence with practical strategies to support researchers in navigating and sustaining well-being within today’s academic environment

The event started enthusiastically at 9:00 and proceeded with an engaging discussion of science-based strategies and practical tools to foster emotional resilience, self-organization, and inner motivation. The topics and exercises included:

• Effective self-organisation and energy management, using practical tools (Pomodoro, Kanban) and strategies for building sustainable work routines.
• Motivation and self-regulation frameworks, including insights from Kahneman and Kuhl, supported by the WOOP (Wish, Outcome, Obstacle, Plan) method to translate goals into action.
• Resilience-building approaches, such as constructive reframing of setbacks, identifying stress triggers, and fostering psychological safety within academic environments.
• Values-based leadership and emotional flexibility, developed through interactive group exercises focused on activating inner resources and introducing the six pillars of emotional flexibility.

As the workshop ended, the participants expressed a sense that the combination of interactive input and guided reflection helped them to learn more about how to stay motivated, manage their energy, handle setbacks constructively and maintain an awareness of their personal values and long-term goals.

Marc Schumacher

Institute of Medical Biometry and Statistics,
Faculty of Medicine and Medical Center –
University of Freiburg