• © PTB | Stephanie Rubrecht

    © PTB | Stephanie Rubrecht

    15.07.2026

    Earlier detection of mental illness: the Einstein Center for Youth Mental Health gets under way

Anyone who wants to help people with mental illness more effectively needs to start earlier. That is the core conviction behind the Einstein Center for Youth Mental Health (ECYM), which is now launching its central study in Brain City Berlin. On 1 July, recruitment began for around 1,000 young people between the ages of 12 and 25.

Why adolescence is decisive

The figures speak for themselves: 75 per cent of all mental illnesses first occur before the age of 25. Yet most clinical services are still geared towards adults with fully developed conditions. "Clinical services and structures need to be much more focused on adolescence than they have been so far, in order to identify emerging mental illnesses earlier and intervene therapeutically," says Prof. Peter Uhlhaas, spokesperson for the ECYM and head of the Biomarkers, Early Intervention and Digital Medicine research group at Charité.

The reason lies in biology. Between the ages of 12 and 25, the adolescent brain is in a phase of particular plasticity, during which so-called sensitive periods open windows of opportunity for preventive intervention. Risk factors such as environmental influences or traumatic experiences can leave lasting traces during this phase. The flip side is equally important: early intervention can correct developmental problems and strengthen young people's resilience.

What has stood in the way of early detection

Despite growing evidence, significant gaps remain. Existing diagnostic systems such as DSM-5 and ICD-11 are poorly suited to early detection, since a diagnosis is typically only made once symptoms exceed a certain threshold of severity. Biomarkers that could indicate the onset of serious mental illness at an earlier stage are largely still lacking. Add to this the fact that young people have poor access to clinical services tailored to their needs.

This is where the ECYM comes in. At its heart is a longitudinal study involving around 1,000 young people who are at elevated risk of psychosis, bipolar disorder or borderline personality disorder. They will be closely accompanied scientifically for up to four years, with the aim of better predicting disease trajectories and understanding their causes more precisely.

The ECYM draws on advanced imaging methods, including the new OPM-MEG Centre in Brain City Berlin, which uses quantum-based sensors to capture high-resolution recordings of brain activity. These are complemented by digital assessments in everyday life and AI-assisted analysis. "Interventions during adolescence make it possible to correct developmental problems and improve resilience," says Uhlhaas.

Alongside the research, the ECYM aims to develop and test new therapies and care models. From the outset, young people with lived experience of mental illness will be actively involved. Clinical services tailored to adolescents remain rare, but Berlin's "Soulspace" project offers a relevant pilot example.

Seven Berlin institutions, one shared mission

The ECYM brings together the expertise of seven Berlin institutions: Charité, Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Technische Universität Berlin, Vivantes, the Max Planck Institute for Human Development and the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt. The Einstein Foundation Berlin is funding the centre with six million euros over six years. The fact that such close cross-institutional collaboration is possible is no coincidence: Brain City Berlin, with its unique concentration of clinical and scientific expertise, provides exactly the environment that a project of this kind requires.

Young people and young adults up to the age of 25 and their parents who are interested in taking part in the study can register from 1 July at ecym-mitmachen@charite.de. Further information is available on the ECYM website at https://www.einstein-youthmentalhealth.com/en/.

More information:

More Stories