Berlin – November 12, 2026 -- Forty-two percent of surveyed German students report strong to extreme climate anxiety, and health insurer mkk - meine krankenkasse and Hamburg University of Applied Sciences (HAW Hamburg) are now offering universities a prevention program to address it.
Survey of 4,494 students from about 190 universities drives program design
The program, called KLIM MENT, is based on a non-representative online survey from the 2024/2025 winter semester. Respondents came from roughly 190 higher education institutions. Many said they want personal and psychological support, low-threshold contact points, and better communication and transparency from their universities.
KLIM MENT delivers eight modules for students and university staff
Four sequential modules teach students to understand climate-related emotions, identify stressors, handle distressing news on social media, and develop coping strategies. They are offered online and in person. Four additional online modules train teaching staff and university employees to recognize psychological strain and support affected students.
mkk, HAW Hamburg, students and the Institut für Gesundheit und Management (IfG) developed the offering together. It is open to all universities and students regardless of subject, semester or degree. It was presented at the KOPFKLIMA event in Berlin.
Pilot participants report gains; two-year effectiveness study follows
In the pilot phase, 84 percent of participants said the prevention offerings made them feel stronger. The source gives no pilot sample size. Over the next two years, mkk and HAW Hamburg will work with other company health insurers (Betriebskrankenkassen) to test whether the coping strategies help over the long term. They will also assess KLIM MENT's contribution to mental health promotion at universities.
Speakers frame climate anxiety as a reasonable response, not an illness
Psychologist Lea Dohm of KLUG e. V. said worry about climate change is understandable and should not be mistaken for mental illness. Journalist Toralf Staud warned that coverage focused only on catastrophes can deepen feelings of helplessness and should also show solutions. mkk board member Andrea Galle noted that today's students are tomorrow's specialists and executives.