On October 10, World Mental Health Day, Bertelsmann is launching its fourth company-wide initiative dedicated to promoting mental health – officially kicking off Mental Health Month!
The goal is to strengthen awareness of mental health in the workplace and to foster an open, supportive approach to mental well-being and everyday challenges.
As part of Mental Health Month, you’ll once again find many learning opportunities and we’ll be highlighting some of these offers here throughout the month.
„People are at the heart of Bertelsmann – with all their strengths, challenges, and needs“, says Chief HR Officer Immanuel Hermreck. „Mental health is crucial for personal well-being, performance, and thus for our shared success.“
This perspective is firmly embedded in the Bertelsmann Health & Well-being Policy, adopted in December 2024. The policy defines health holistically – as the balance between physical, mental, and social well-being – and promotes a culture of mutual care and responsibility. If you’d like to learn more: Bertelsmann Policy Health & Well-being
Highlight of the Initiative: A Keynote with Sports Psychologist Dr. Maximilian Pelka
A special highlight of this year’s initiative will be the keynote by Dr. Maximilian Pelka on October 28 at 4 p.m. CET.
The experienced sports psychologist has worked for many years in professional football – including with RB Leipzig, FC Bayern Munich, and in the Premier League.
Today, he translates his knowledge from elite sports into the business world, showing how mental strength, recovery, and resilience can be fostered in everyday work life – and why relaxation is not a luxury, but a prerequisite for sustainable performance.
Register for the keynote here: Registration Link
More to Explore: Learning and Media Resources on Mental Health
As in previous years, the initiative offers a variety of ways to engage with the topic – from workshops and training sessions to inspiring reading, listening, and self-learning formats.
- Reading tipps: Download here
- Podcast tipps (only in german): Download here
- Self-paced learning formats: Explore the “Mental Health in Focus - Course Collection" for learning resources on mindfulness, stress management, and psychological foundations.
If you'd like to continue learning beyond the Mental Health Month, here are two more great recommendations from the Bertelsmann University:
