New youth project aimed at boosting mental and physical health through bouldering

After conducting numerous studies with adults, the working group led by Prof. Dr. Katharina Luttenberger from the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy at Uniklinikum Erlangen has come to the conclusion that bouldering boosts mental health. The results are so convincing that the Bavarian State Ministry of Health, Care and Prevention has now decided to fund a project focusing on 13 to 18 year olds. On January 31, 2025 the Bavarian State Minister of Health, Care and Prevention Judith Gerlach handed over the check for funding in the climbing gym “der steinbock Nürnberg”. The study “BooSt – Boulder dich stark: Boulderpsychotherapie gegen Depression und Stress (BooST – Boost your strength through bouldering: Bouldering psychotherapy against depression and stress)”, which will last several years and be run throughout Bavaria in collaboration with the Department of Child and Adolescent Mental Health at Uniklinikum Erlangen and the research group “Therapy and care” from the IFT Institut für Therapieforschung gGmbH, can now get off the ground.

The project “BooST – Boulder dich stark” focuses on strengthening the mental health of young people with attractive options that allow them to gain positive experiences. “A pilot study conducted with young people struggling with their mental health indicated how beneficial and promising this new therapeutic approach is for improving young people’s mental health. The young people experienced a boost to their self-efficacy and felt stronger – both physically and mentally,” explains principal investigator Prof. Luttenberger.

State Minister Gerlach stressed: “It is crucial that we offer young people in need of psychological help support tailored to meet their individual needs. We are providing approximately 811,000 euros to support the bouldering psychotherapy project because it is a shining example of how we can boost young people’s physical and mental health with creative and at the same time scientifically proven approaches. At the climbing wall, young people learn to master challenges and overcome their fear one step at a time. These experiences can then be integrated well into their everyday lives.”

Study due to start in May 2025 – apply now

The project now aims to investigate whether these promising results can be mirrored in a large sample of young people struggling with their mental health from across Bavaria, namely from the four cities of Nuremberg, Erlangen, Bamberg and Regensburg. “All participants will benefit from bouldering psychotherapy over ten sessions in small groups accompanied by a therapist,” explains Prof. Luttenberger. The therapy program includes active methods for coping with stress through bouldering exercises in the group as well as methods for mindfulness and self-confidence that are aimed at encouraging the young people to reach new heights at the same time as recognizing their own limits.

If you are interested, you can find further details and register on the website http://www.boulderdichstark.de. The first of four ten-week therapy programs will then start in four Bavarian climbing gyms in May 2025. The program is aimed at young people struggling with their mental health between the ages of 13 and 18. While bouldering, all participants can experience directly “at the wall” how they can influence their mood with physical activity and new experiences. Participation in the study is free of charge.

Invitation to information sessions

Any young people who are interested in getting involved and their relatives are invited to take part in one of our online information sessions about the study “BooSt – Boulder dich stark” to find out details, meet the team behind the study and possibly to sign up straight away.

Further information:

Prof. Dr. Katharina Luttenberger
Phone: +49 9131 85 34650
boulderdichstark.ps@uk-erlangen.de