An earful of “Jung und Freudlos” (“Young and joyless”)
Freiburg, Oct 22, 2018
Photo: Siddharth Bhogra/Unsplash
With a tinge of irony, the podcast title alludes to the psychiatric-psychotherapeutic legends of Carl Gustav Jung and Sigmund Freud: The podcast “jung und freudlos” has been available since October 2018. The team from the Freiburg Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy wants to convey entertaining psychiatric topics, thereby reaching young adults and especially first-year students with these programs. The offer is the result of a teaching project that received the Instructional Development Award (IDA) from the University of Freiburg. In the recording studio, Annette Hoffmann spoke about the podcast with Dr. Ismene Hermann, assistant physician at the Department of Psychiatry, her colleague Sebastian Kromer and the medical student Moritz Prox-Ambil.
Starting college can be a critical phase in which young people can be prone to mental illness - the podcast provides tips and points of constact for those affected. Photo: Siddharth Bhogra/Unsplash
Mr. Kromer, how to decide on your topics?
Sebastian Kromer: We’ve gone around to the students to ask them for their input. As a result, we have created a collection with 40 to 50 topics. So far, we have produced eight articles on the topic. The podcast will now be published every two weeks.
In the second article you deal with is autism, and you have announced that you will supplement the program with an interview.
Ismene Hermann: Our senior physician, Prof. Dr. Ludger Tebartz van Elst, is an internationally renowned autism researcher. The issue of autism has had a lot of input. We decided to focus on the wishes of the listeners for further topics.
What other topics do you cover in „jung und freudlos“?
Sebastian Kromer: Regarding borderline personality disorder, we have recorded two episodes on depression, schizophrenia and eating disorders. We have also produced an episode about alcohol dependence.
For most young people, celebrating is part of their leisure culture. What is the limit above which alcohol consumption can become an issue?
Sebastian Kromer: On the one hand, we have approached the subject of alcohol from a medical point of view, and there are clear guidelines. You should not drink more than five days a week. Men should not drink more than 200 grams of alcohol per week and women more than 100 grams. The World Health Organization even says that more than 24 grams for men and twelve grams for women per day could be present a health hazard. Twenty grams of alcohol correspond to about half a liter of beer. The other view on the topic is the social one. Of course many people drink more and are therefore in the area of risky consumption. If medicine were to make policy, alcohol would be handled more restrictively.
Recording in progress: In the podcast, Ismene Hermann, Moritz Prox-Ambil and Sebastian Kromer (from left) would like to convey information aimed towards the everyday life of their young audience. Photo: Patrick Seeger
Would such a program have been helpful to you during your studies?
Ismene Hermann: When Sebastian and I were studying, there were very few podcasts on medical topics. When I was studying for my final exams, the first podcasts on certain topics emerged. I also listened to them, for example, while jogging. “Jung und freudlos” is not your typical educational podcast. It is aimed at everyone and does not serve as the basis for exam preparation, but rather for general information and awareness. It also conveys our enthusiasm for the subject and provides helpful guidance on the issues.
How is the podcast organized?
Moritz Prox-Ambil: The structure is comparable to textbooks. We name key data such as frequency and symptoms of a disease and work our way up to diagnosis and therapy. In the last section, we consider what is important for our target group and provide information that is oriented towards the everyday life and experiences of young adults.
Why are mental illnesses important for a younger audience?
Ismene Hermann: The beginning of college can be a critical phase because a lot of people move away from home and their whole environment changes during this time. As a result, psychological problems can easily emerge. But often they are difficult to grasp in the beginning. In this type of situation, many do not know where they can go to get help they need. We want to sensitize those affected, but also their personal environment, their fellow students and friends. And provide advice on where to turn.
Does such a podcast reduce reservations about psychiatry?
Moritz Prox-Ambil: Podcasts are a contemporary medium for reaching out to people. There are many opportunities to listen to them. The way we talk about these issues is close to the listeners, at eye level so to speak. It becomes clear that mental illness is common, affects everyone and can be treated well. We hope to contribute to destigmatizing these issues.
Where can listeners find the “jung und freudlos” podcast?
Sebastian Kromer: People can listen to the podcast on Spotify, iTunes or through our Website.
Moritz Prox-Ambil: We are also on Facebook and Twitter. We are also looking to be listed on the University’s podcast page.
An article on the podcasts’ development in the newspaper uni’leben