Mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, and borderline personality disorder remain difficult to treat despite decades of research. They present both individual and societal challenges. The root causes of these conditions are often unclear, and access to appropriate treatment is frequently inadequate. First symptoms typically appear between the ages of 12 and 25—crucial years for social, academic, and professional development.
The Einstein Center for Youth Mental Health (ECYM) investigates ways to improve care and explore new methods for early detection of mental illness. Seven Berlin institutions—Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin (FU Berlin), Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (HU Berlin), Technische Universität Berlin (TU Berlin), Vivantes, the Max Planck Institute for Human Development, and the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt—will work together to better identify, understand, and treat mental illness in this age group. A major longitudinal study will track around 950 adolescents, both with and without elevated risk, over four years. Advanced brain imaging, digital assessments, and AI-based analyses will be used to identify risk factors and early warning signs. New therapies and care models will also be developed and tested. Young people with lived experience of mental illness will be actively involved in the research.