Successful POKAL kick-off

On October 1, 2021, the POKAL Research Training Group GRK 2621 "Predictors and Clinical Outcomes of Depressive Disorders in Primary Care" officially started and now the first Research Training Day took place for our 16 students on October 13, 2021. First, they were welcomed by the President of Ludwig Maximilian University, Prof. Dr. rer. pol. Bernd Huber, live via Zoom. After a detailed round of information and introductions, they were introduced to the central topic of the Kolleg, the Chronic Care Model, in a seminar by POKAL speaker Prof. Dr. med. Jochen Gensichen (LMU) and vice speaker Prof. Dr. med.

After a break, our interdisciplinary young scientists from the fields of medicine, psychology, public health, pharmacy and computer science listened intently to the lecture by Prof. Dr. Jürgen Margraf from Ruhr University Bochum entitled "More than the other side of the coin: Positive mental health". In a subsequent fireside chat, the multifaceted topic of mental health was discussed in detail. To celebrate the first day, there was then a meal together in the café on Beethovenplatz. It was a wonderful, long day on which everyone learned a lot and grew together a little.

The first retreat of the DFG-funded POKAL-Kolleg took place in Frauenchiemsee from November 2 to 4, 2021. Getting to know each other was therefore an important part of the event, so that the fellows and supervisors first introduced themselves and their projects in detail. The DFG and other important organizations were also given the opportunity to introduce themselves. The input from Dr. De Valerio from the Depression Alliance was particularly fruitful. The atmosphere was excellent and it was noticeable how motivated the participants left the retreat and how the cooperation partners had grown together quite a bit.