What is [U25]
[U25] is an anonymous, free and encrypted online counseling service for teenagers and young adults up to the age of 25 who are experiencing a mental health crisis. What makes it special: Counseling is based on the peer principle - young people between the ages of 16 and 25 advise their peers by email. The volunteer peer counselors receive intensive training and ongoing professional support.
U25] was founded in Freiburg in 2001. Since 2012, the service has been further developed and expanded nationwide together with the German Caritas Association.
With Rüsselsheim, Mainz and Worms, three new locations will be launched in spring 2026.
Important to know: The [U25] counseling service is already available throughout Germany at www.u25-deutschland.de/helpmail. The new locations will significantly expand the service.
Join in and help
Young people between the ages of 16 and 24 who would like to volunteer can now register with [U25] Rüsselsheim.
You can expect
- in-depth training (theoretical and practical),
- regular supervision/case counseling and professional support,
- the opportunity for personal development,
- a valuable contribution to suicide prevention in your own age group,
- integration into a regional and national network.
Why [U25] is so important
Suicide is one of the most common causes of death among young people. Many of those affected speak openly about their thoughts for the first time in the context of anonymous online counseling. Studies show: Digital and low-threshold services such as [U25] often reach young people better than traditional counseling formats.
Last year alone, around 1,700 young people across Germany were supported by [U25] - and the trend is rising. With the new location in Rüsselsheim, the Caritas Association Offenbach is sending a strong signal for the mental health of young people in the region. The project is financed and supported by the DiCV Mainz.
Contact & further information
Sophia Ebbeler
Coordination [U25] Rüsselsheim
Caritas Center Rüsselsheim / St. Georg
Goethestraße 2
65428 Rüsselsheim
+49 69 20 000 350
u25-ruesselsheim@cv-offenbach.de
www.u25-deutschland.de
You can download a postcard and a flyer as information material.