It is a matter of personal importance to Silvia Meyer. Anyone who is having a difficult time and needs information about topics such as caring for a family member, or bullying should "find bundled and clear information, and have the opportunity to contact the relevant contact person or advice service - even if they wish to remain anonymous", says the Equal Opportunities Officer at the University of Stuttgart. Evermood now offers such a service to all students and employees.
This online database contains approx. 130 articles and videos on the topics:
- Conflicts and crisis
- Health and psychological stress, as well as
- Family and private concerns.
All the information is available in German and English and is fully accessible. The relevant contact person and advice service can be found at the end of each article. The platform was developed by a German start-up, which aims to offer support and advice to employees at a company or facility to help reduce fluctuation and increase general well-being.
Inform yourself first, then contact anonymously or personally
Meyer believes that it is helpful to be able to read or look at information on a specific topic that might currently be causing a problem. For example, an employee might want to know if something that happened was sexual harassment. In Evermood, the employee can read some articles on this subject and can contact the internal or external contact person listed at the end of the article. This is possible either anonymously in the chat, or personally via email or the external helpline.
In addition to the external contacts available in Evermood, Meyer has also involved more than 20 advice and confidential consultation services at the university, the stuvus Studierendenvertretung and Studierendenwerk: everything from the Occupational Medical Service to the Student Counseling Center (ZSB). "In fall 2020 when I first embarked on this project and gained approval for the platform from the Chancellor, I thought I would need maybe six contacts at the university", says Meyer with a laugh. She took over the role of Equal Opportunities Officer in August 2020 and the Evermood project enabled her to get to know various advice services despite the Corona pandemic and to build a network. She emphasizes, "We are the main point of contact at the university if someone has a problem or is worried about something and is brave enough to talk about it." She continues, "We aim to respond quickly, within 48 hours if possible". Regardless of which contact method university members choose to use.
Evermood remains Silvia Meyer's biggest project
It took approximately 18 months for Meyer's project to progress from an idea, to gaining approval from the Central Data Protection Office for Universities in Baden-Württemberg (ZENDAS) in December 2021, to finally being ready to go online in April 2022. The online knowledge database will be available at the University of Stuttgart for the next two years and it will be evaluated both during and after this period. Meyer says she plans to continue working on Evermood, publishing new articles - including articles that are specifically relevant for our university - and creating new links to the university's webpages. "If I have forgotten any advisors, or if the users notice that something is not functioning correctly then please contact me."
Meyer hopes that the "biggest project of my time in office" will encourage students and employees to speak about their worries and fears. And that combining family and career, or studying and family, will become easier by solving conflicts faster, in a more targeted way and by lowering the threshold to do this. And that the university will become a fairer and healthier place where we treat each other respectfully and value each other.
- Evermood
For employees and students of the University of Stuttgart: The University of Stuttgart encourages you to seek help in case of conflicts, crises and concerns. Here you can find information and contact confidants - whether you seek digital, personal or anonymous counseling.
Contact
Silvia Meyer
Equal Opportunities Officer