Adolescence and young adulthood are critical periods of social, behavioral and psychological maturation and change, which both creates opportunities for the development of lifelong wellbeing. However, this period of life is also associated with a significant risk for developing mental disorders, and 75% of all mental disorders begin before the age of 25. Mental Health Dresden-Leipzig is a consortium of the two neighboring universities Technische Universität Dresden and Universität Leipzig accompanied by the Robert Koch Institute. The consortium has particular strengths and expertise in clinical psychiatry, neuro- and cognitive psychology, basic and clinical neuroscience, epidemiology, environmental sociology, and public mental health. The infrastructure includes neuropsychiatric research facilities, a digital health centre, existing longitudinal cohort and population studies, regional networks of district hospitals, services and community organisations in Saxony, and international collaborations including the transCampus® initiative. With translation between the above-mentioned research fields, including participatory research approaches, we aim to improve the mental health of young people. Bridging the gap between neuroscience-based and public mental health research is a unique strength of Mental Health Dresden-Leipzig.
