Berlin Blues -- Navigating mental health care in the German capital and beyond.

I pitched, gathered subjects, wrote questions, and interviewed guests discussing mental health care in Germany.
To make the issue relatable, I interviewed people directly affected by the shortage of and gaps in mental health care. A Ukrainian woman shared her struggles with finding a steady therapist and her outrage about Ukrainian friends being referred to Russian therapists during the war. An American compared their more readily accessible therapy in the U.S. to the struggles they faced in Germany. A psychologist from Mexico identified the challenge of connecting with a therapist in a different culture and the bureaucratic obstacles contributing to Germany’s therapist shortage. Lastly, a native German outlined his intricate process of securing care in the scarce landscape. By weaving personal stories and expert analysis, our newsroom created a concise and emotionally compelling episode. I extended the episode's reach on social media through infographics and reels. This multifaceted approach made it one of our top-performing episodes of the year.
Here is the podcast description:

Berlin is ranked as one of the three unhappiest states in Germany. What role does a shortage of therapy play? And is there a way to get around that shortage if you need help? Guest host Eden Brockman explores the accessibility and quality of mental health care in Berlin and across Germany with Jöran Mandik, host of Get Help Berlin, and Berlin-based psychologist Irene Joubert. Also featuring Gus Gaston, an American living in Cologne, and Diana Martsynkovska, a Ukrainian living in Berlin, who share their personal experiences navigating the mental health care system in Germany.

Music: “Remedy for Melancholy” by Kai Engel and “Emotional Sad Atmosphere with Piano and Violin” by Universfield. (Source: FMA)

This episode was produced by Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson, Axel Scheele and Eden Brockman.