Following the success of its inaugural edition in 2019, the prevention project “Läuft in Mainz” was held again in 2026. Around 80 ninth-grade students at the Realschule plus Mainz-Lerchenberg had the opportunity to learn about numerous assistance and support services available in the Mainz area and to explore the various life situations and crises faced by young people and adults.

At a kickoff event on March 12 at the Realschule plus Mainz-Lerchenberg, the participating counseling and resource centers introduced themselves to the school staff and answered questions from teachers and school social workers.

The main event with the students took place on April 15, 2026. The participating students visited two counseling centers in the Mainz area in small groups and were able to learn directly on-site about the services, working methods, and support options available. In advance, the young people had the opportunity to formulate their own questions for the respective institutions. Following the visits, the students presented the counseling centers they had visited to one another in a school setting and shared their experiences and impressions.

Thematically, “Läuft in Mainz” covers a broad spectrum of areas relevant to young people. These include, among others: 

• Friendship and family
• Gambling, alcohol, nicotine, and other drugs
• Social media and gaming
• Sex, love, and pregnancy
• Leisure and sports
• School and Education
• Bullying and (sexual) violence
• Mental health, chronic illnesses, and disability
• Sexual and Gender Identity

In total, around 20 drop-in centers and counseling services participated in the project.

The feedback from the young people was extremely positive. A 9th-grade student described his impressions as follows: “Läuft in Mainz was really cool and exciting—a nice change from school or anything else in my life. I learned a lot and gained new insights, which helped me. I highly recommend it.”

The positive response is already having an impact: Several schools have expressed interest in participating, and the participating partners are also in favor of continuing the project in 2027.

“Läuft in Mainz” is a collaborative event organized by the state capital of Mainz in partnership with local institutions and organizations that serve as drop-in centers and counseling services for young people in various life situations. The project was initiated by the Addiction Prevention unit of the municipal Youth and Drug Counseling Center BRÜCKE and implemented in collaboration with numerous partners. Planning and implementation were carried out by the City of Mainz’s Working Group on Prevention and Health Promotion under the leadership of the Addiction Services Department – Addiction Prevention Team. Project management was led by the Office for Youth and Family, specifically the Department of Children, Youth, and Families, the Addiction Services Department, and the school social work program at the Realschule plus Mainz-Lerchenberg.