World Mental Health Day at WHU

Reflection & Resilience: Strengthening Your Mental Space—that was the theme of the first-ever event hosted by the Positive Health & Well-Being Center at WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management, held in celebration of World Mental Health Day. Many students from both of the school’s campuses in Vallendar and in Düsseldorf, alumni, mental health professionals, and other experts gathered on October 10, 2025, for the hybrid event. 

The center welcomed inspiring guest speakers and explored ways people can consider mental well-being in their daily lives: Dr. Isabel von Korff (EMBA 2009), as a neurobiologist and business coach, shared her knowledge of how we can better understand our brains and help them become more resilient and experience less stress. She was followed by Jan Sieksmeyer, a certified psychotherapist, who hosted an insightful session about the German medical and therapy system. This was especially helpful for international students, who may not have known about the different types of support available in the country. Sieksmeyer also spoke to the students about why seeking help matters and informed them of the barriers that often keep people from doing so.

Suraj Prabhakaran, a representative of the university-centric program SKY Campus, led some fun exercises to demonstrate how the brain can play tricks on us. In guiding participants through a short meditation session, he provided a small sample of what the program offers: practical and evidence-based techniques on breathwork, meditation, and yoga. The center has plans to extend its partnership with SKY Campus and offer more programs for students on both campuses.

Before the event came to an end, alumna Zhengjun Zhang (MBA 2023) shared a powerful personal story of resilience, reminding the audience of the importance of taking care of their mental health and setting the right priorities.

For the center, the event was a success, and the team was delighted by the spirit of the evening, with every attendee having helped create a safe and open space to reflect, connect, and strengthen one’s mental resilience. The team would like to extend its heartfelt thanks to everyone who joined, whether on campus or online, for their openness, engagement, and positive feedback.

The center is looking forward to continuing this journey and bringing more meaningful conversations, shared reflections, and initiatives to WHU that nurture one’s health and well-being.

Click here to read more about WHU’s Positive Health & Well-Being Center.