Mental Health

Our mental health deserves attention. Learn how to find help and support others.

Home Help & Advice FH OÖ Compass Life Mental Health

Our mental health

Mental health has fortunately become more of a focus in recent years. Social acceptance of people with mental illness is improving, and we can all contribute to this. Mental illness, like physical illness, depends on many factors and the path to recovery is individual. For both mentally and physically ill people, it is important when friends and acquaintances offer help and support, but this must be unconditional. This means that the concerned person may always decide for him*herself whether s*he wants to accept this help. (The only exceptions to this are threats to oneself or others, for example suicidal thoughts or threats to other people).

Testimonials, information and support services

If you are worried about your own mental health or that of your colleagues, there are several support services available:

At all four locations of the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria there are trained contact persons for “Mental Health First Aid”, who are to be understood as the first point of contact if there is need to talk about problems or worries. The JKU in Linz is home to the “Psychological Student Counseling Service”, which is also accessible to all FH OÖ students and offers counseling and psychological help by phone and chat in addition to on-site appointments. Our “Need Some Help” brochure also lists other institutions that offer help with psychological (and other) concerns and problems.

Psychotherapy

Are you looking for a psychotherapist? Here you will find a good overview and can choose the person you think is best suited to you.

In case you are interested in getting psychotherapy in another language, you can choose from here.

To maintain your mental health, you can try to take good care of yourself. Maybe our tips will help, which you can find at

Information for relatives

Relatives of mentally ill people can find information, contacts, and advice here.

Personality disposition

Personality dispositions such as mindfulness, resilience, self-compassion, procrastination and a sense of belonging contribute significantly to our well-being and naturally also influence the success of our studies. The Well-Being Self-Assessment is completely anonymous and makes it possible to determine and reflect on precisely these personality facets. It allows participants to reflect on their strengths and weaknesses.

After completing the questionnaire, automatically generated feedback provides information on the individual results and offers customised information and support mechanisms to improve the situation.

More Information

Read more about mental health, find tips and interesting articles related with the topic:

Better Linked: Not Everything That Matters in University Is Taught in Class

Studying Today Means More Than Learning

Lectures, exams, assignments. They are all part of university life.

But student life involves much more than that. Between AI, social media, part-time jobs, career decisions, and the pressure to always perform, a lot is expected of you every day. You need to evaluate information, make decisions, deal with uncertainty, and find your own path.

Academic knowledge is important. But it is only one part of what helps you succeed in your studies and future career.

Just as important are the skills that help you navigate a complex and rapidly changing world with confidence.

Better Linked is a place where students share experiences, find guidance, and develop the skills they truly need in a world shaped by AI and constant change.

Better Linked is a free platform for students.

Here, you can connect anonymously with others, share experiences, ask questions, and work together to find solutions. Many of the challenges students face cannot simply be solved through a Google search or answered by AI.

Sometimes, you do not need the perfect answer.

Sometimes, you need people who have gone through something similar.

Questions Many Students Are Asking

How can I use AI without losing my ability to think for myself?
How do I deal with academic pressure without constantly overwhelming myself?
How can I stay motivated when everything seems to happen at once?
How do I find my own path without constantly comparing myself to others?
How can I make good decisions in a world that is constantly changing?

If you have ever asked yourself questions like these, you are not alone.

On Better Linked, you can talk about them openly, honestly, anonymously, and as equals.

Why Better Linked?

Information is everywhere today.

AI can answer questions in seconds.

But personal growth does not come from information alone.

It comes from people sharing experiences, discovering new perspectives, and working together to figure out what truly works in real life.

That is what makes Better Linked different.

Here, you do not just learn from answers. You learn from the experiences of other students while developing your own skills at the same time.

What connects us is a shared search for direction, self-efficacy, and the confidence to find your own path in a world full of opportunities and uncertainties.

A Safe Space for Honest Conversations

Not every question is something you want to ask in class, among friends, or on social media.

That is why Better Linked uses self-chosen nicknames only. Your identity remains protected.

This creates a space where openness is possible, free from fear of judgment or stigma.

Develop Skills That Truly Matter

Better Linked helps you build skills that are valuable far beyond university.

For example, it can help you:

navigate change and uncertainty with confidence,
make better decisions,
reflect on your approach to stress,
stay focused, healthy, and productive,
understand different perspectives,
take ownership of your learning,
shape your own path with confidence.

In addition, you will find workshops, self-coaching opportunities, and short learning resources designed to help you strengthen these skills step by step.

Getting Started Is Easy

Registration only takes a few minutes.

Register for free: https://betterlinked.eu/registrieren/
Choose a nickname.
Confirm your email address.
Sign in and become part of the community.

You decide whether you want to start by reading, asking questions, or sharing your own experiences.

The Future Requires More Than Knowledge

The world is changing faster than ever.

Artificial intelligence, new technologies, and social change create exciting opportunities while presenting new challenges.

As a result, skills such as self-reflection, critical judgment, collaboration, resilience, and the ability to cope with uncertainty are becoming increasingly important.

Better Linked provides a space where students can develop exactly these capabilities.

Not alone. Together.

Not perfect. Honest.

Not just for university, but for everything that comes after.

Why Invest Five Minutes of Your Time?

Because here you can learn something that no textbook, AI tool, or social media feed can teach you: how to navigate the challenges of a complex world through reflection, shared experiences, and meaningful conversations with other students.

Is Better Linked Really Useful, or Is It Just Another Platform?

Better Linked is not another task on your to-do list. It is designed to make student life easier.

You will not find endless feeds or carefully curated online personas. Instead, you will find honest questions, diverse perspectives, and real experiences from student life. Often, a new perspective or a meaningful conversation is all it takes to gain clarity about your next step.

I Have ChatGPT. Why Do I Need Better Linked?

AI is an excellent tool for information, ideas, and explanations.

Better Linked complements what AI cannot provide: meaningful exchanges with people who are facing similar challenges, have taken different paths, and are willing to share their experiences.

Information can become knowledge.

Experience can become guidance and confidence.

Together, they help you make better decisions.

Will I Actually Find Students With Similar Questions?

Yes, and that is one of the things that makes Better Linked special.

Whether it is exam stress, motivation, AI in education, career decisions, self-organization, or entering the workforce, many concerns are shared by more students than you might expect.

The conversations often reveal that you are not alone.

What Will I Gain for My Daily Student Life?

Better Linked helps you do more than overcome challenges. It helps you grow through them.

You will develop skills that are valuable both during your studies and throughout your career, such as making sound decisions, dealing with change, maintaining focus, considering different perspectives, and confidently creating your own path.

Do I Have to Post or Participate Actively?

No.

You are welcome to start by simply reading and learning from the experiences of others.

Whenever you feel ready, you can ask questions or share your own thoughts and experiences.

You decide how involved you want to be.

Why Do Students Share Their Experiences Here?

Because every experience can help someone else.

Perhaps you have already overcome a challenge that another student is facing right now. Or perhaps you ask a question that many people have but only a few are willing to voice.

That is how a community of mutual learning is created, where perfection is not the goal.

How Can Better Linked Help Me Find My Own Path?

There is rarely only one right path.

The more perspectives you encounter, the easier it becomes to make decisions that genuinely fit who you are.

Better Linked does not aim to provide ready-made solutions. Instead, it offers a space where you can gain clarity, put experiences into perspective, and gradually build trust in your own judgment.

How Is Better Linked Different From Social Media?

Social media usually shows the outcome.

Better Linked focuses on the journey.

There is room here for questions, uncertainty, ideas, and honest experiences, without likes, comparisons, or the pressure to appear perfect.

Rather than self-promotion, the platform is built around mutual support, new perspectives, and shared learning.

Can I Really Remain Anonymous?

Yes.

On Better Linked, you interact exclusively through a nickname of your choice.

Other users do not see your personal information, allowing you to discuss important topics openly without revealing your identity.

Step by Step registration on Better Linked

Download now

Support someone with a mental health problem

Being open to mental health doesn’t have to be awkward and being there for someone can make a huge difference to their life. We’re here to help. Find out what you should know if you think a friend, family member or colleague is struggling. In this site you will find some tips to face this situations.

Mental Health

Our mental health