Because It's Easier Together

Promoting the health of students at FH Campus Wien, raising awareness of mental health issues and strengthening social cohesion - these are the goals of the project LISTEN!

Times of crisis cannot be avoided in life, but in order to emerge from them stronger, sometimes external support is needed. This is precisely where the project "LISTEN! - Living Interconnected Student Engagement" comes into play. "The project is based on three pillars: a low-threshold counseling service in the form of peer counseling, networking opportunities for students and workshops for FH Campus Wien employees who are in regular contact with students," says Petra Paukowitsch, occupational therapist, social worker and project manager of LISTEN!

By Students for Students

Peer counseling is support provided by students for students - after all, who knows better what you need during your studies than the students themselves? Peer counseling is a low-threshold point of contact that students can turn to in stressful situations or when they have questions. Students are trained as peer advisors in an open course. "Counseling is not therapy and cannot replace it. Our peer counselors are trained in conversation techniques, stress management and much more. Above all, they also know which topics are beyond their expertise," explains Petra Paukowitsch. In this case, the peer counselors, who are continuously supervised, act as guides to help their fellow students find their way to the right contact point.

Raising Awareness Among Employees

Part of the project is also a training program for employees working in teaching and administration. The aim for this group is to raise awareness of student health and to provide strategies for dealing with students in stressful situations.

Participatory Cooperation

The services offered by LISTEN! are planned and implemented in a needs-oriented manner and in collaboration with the target groups. In order to identify the challenges faced by students, the project staff rely on accompanying focus groups and individual interviews. The project is linked to the FH Campus Wien's Workplace Health Management Campus Vital, and is implemented in close cooperation with the ÖH FH Campus Wien (Austrian Students' Union) and the Gender & Diversity Management. The Wiener Gesundheitsförderung - WiG (Vienna Health Promotion Agency) supports the project financially.

“With LISTEN! we want to help create a health-promoting environment for our students," says Petra Paukowitsch, occupational therapist, social worker and project manager of LISTEN!.

Degree programs in the department Health Sciences: