PTSD Commissioner of the Federal Ministry of Defence
The central point of contact for those affected by deployment and their relatives at ministerial level in the Federal Ministry of Defence is the PTSD Officer.
Offers of help – Who does what?
Soldiers suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and their families are not left alone with their problems. In the context of foreign deployments and the resulting psychological damage, there are now a wide range of support services available from the German Armed Forces, as well as from numerous civilian organisations and initiatives. These range from educational measures on mental illness and the associated service-related issues to specific preventive care and therapy services provided by experts, support for the recovery process with projects for those affected and their families, and the continuous improvement of care through research measures.
Below, we have compiled the most important services offered by the British Armed Forces and civilian and voluntary organisations to provide help and support in relation to PTSD and other psychological disorders resulting from military service.
Here you will find:
Aid offered by the German Armed Forces
Official support for soldiers and their families
Guidance for those affected by deployment
Soldiers who are trained to assist those affected by deployment can provide expert information on the support services offered by the Armed Forces.
Federal Armed Forces Support Organisation (BBO)
The Bundeswehr welfare organisation is responsible for the welfare and support of soldiers and their families.
Social services of the German Armed Forces
The Bundeswehr Social Services Department offers all members of the Bundeswehr and their families advice and support in all social matters.
Psychological Trauma Centre of the German Armed Forces at the BwK Berlin
The Psychotraumazentrum (Psychological Trauma Centre) is primarily concerned with the prevention and treatment of psychological damage suffered by Bundeswehr soldiers as a result of their deployment.
Responsible for matters relating to surviving dependants at the Federal Ministry of Defence
Surviving dependants of deceased and fallen members of the German Armed Forces can contact a central office at the Federal Ministry of Defence.
Networks
The Psychosocial Network (PSN)
The Psychosocial Network is active at every location and in the regions where soldiers are deployed to help them with their problems.
Netzwerk der Hilfe
In recent years, a number of organisations, initiatives, associations and federations have formed a support network.
PTSD-Help
The German Armed Forces' PTSD help portal provides comprehensive information on the subject of PTSD.
Therapies
Military hospitals
The Bundeswehr Medical Service operates Bundeswehr hospitals at five locations in Germany: Berlin, Hamburg, Koblenz, Ulm and Westerstede.
German Armed Forces Hospital Berlin
The Psychotraumazentrum (Psychological Trauma Centre) at the Bundeswehr Hospital in Berlin offers, among other things, open special consultation hours.
German Armed Forces Hospital Hamburg
The Centre for Mental Health at the Bundeswehr Hospital in Hamburg has had a focus on psychotraumatology for many years.
German Armed Forces Central Hospital, Koblenz
At the Bundeswehr Central Hospital in Koblenz, Clinic VI – Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, the main areas of treatment include psychotraumatology.
German Armed Forces Hospital, Ulm
The Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy at the Bundeswehr Hospital in Ulm offers a range of psychotraumatological therapy approaches.
Aid measures and projects
Seminar offerings for traumatised soldiers and Bundeswehr families 2026 – Current PDF overview
Download the current overview of seminars offered for soldiers who have been injured in action and their families here. Find respite, therapy and help with PTSD in the Bundeswehr's support network.
Cures
Preventative treatment
Every returnee from a foreign assignment is entitled to a two- to three-week preventive health treatment for up to six months after the end of their assignment.
Mother-child or father-child health retreats
Mother-child or father-child health retreats are not part of the free medical care provided by the British Armed Forces.
Psychological Service of the German Armed Forces
Psychological Service of the German Armed Forces
The Psychological Service of the German Armed Forces (PsychDstBw) is responsible for providing psychological support to German Armed Forces soldiers in basic operations and on deployment.
Therapist Search
Psychotherapist search database for members of the armed forces
In this database, you will find psychotherapists who offer treatment according to one or more of the four guideline procedures for members of the British Armed Forces.
Federal Chamber of Psychotherapists (BPTK)
The Federal Chamber of Psychotherapists (BPtK) offers a nationwide search for psychological psychotherapists, child and adolescent psychotherapists.
German Society for Psychotraumatology (DeGPT)
Nationwide search for psychotherapists working in trauma therapy for adults, children and adolescents, as well as assessors.
emdria Germany e. V. (EMDR)
emdria Deutschland e. V. offers a nationwide search for EMDR therapists for adults, children and adolescents.
National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KBV)
Nationwide search for all doctors and psychotherapists practising in Germany.
Military medical officers directory
The military doctors directory provides an overview of available doctors who provide medical care to soldiers and members of the German Armed Forces.
Support
Angriff auf die Seele – Psychosocial support for members of the German Armed Forces
The non-profit association Angriff auf die Seele (Attack on the Soul) sees itself as a source of self-help for affected soldiers and their family members.
ASEM – Pastoral care for people suffering from the consequences of deployment and service
The ASEM programme offered by the Protestant Military Chaplaincy is aimed at people who are physically and mentally stressed as a result of their deployment and service, as well as their surviving dependants.
Help in emergencies (list of links)
List of links with contact details for support services for soldiers and their families who find themselves in an emergency situation.
Jenny Böken Foundation
The Jenny Böken Foundation supports families of soldiers who have been killed or fallen in action and their families who are in need.
Guides for those affected by deployment
Soldiers trained as guides for those affected by deployment can provide expert information on the various support services offered by the Armed Forces.
PTSD-Help – Support for stress disorders
The German Armed Forces portal provides comprehensive information on PTSD support.
Pastoral care
Pastoral counsellors or clergy are members of a church and offer spiritual and human support, especially in emergency situations.
Military chaplaincy
Protestant, Catholic and Jewish military chaplains provide their services almost nationwide in Germany and accompany troops on missions abroad.
Colonel Schöttler Disabled Persons Foundation
Colonel Schöttler Foundation for soldiers, police officers and civilian aid workers who have been seriously injured during missions abroad.
Soldiers' Relief Organisation of the German Armed Forces.
The Bundeswehr Soldiers' Relief Organisation (SHWBw) has been in existence since 1957, making it the oldest social institution in the history of the Bundeswehr.
Soldiers and Veterans Foundation (SVS)
The non-profit Soldiers and Veterans Foundation within the German Armed Forces Association (DBwV) aims to contribute to family and mission support.
Social services of the German Armed Forces
The Bundeswehr Social Services Department offers active and former members of the Bundeswehr individual advice and support in all social matters.
Addiction Self-Help Association of the German Armed Forces (SSHBw)
The Search for Self-Help Bundeswehr e. V. association is made up of volunteers, most of whom are acting out of personal experience.
Association of German Armed Forces Reservists.
A network of the Association of German Armed Forces Reservists to support reservists who have been injured in action and their families.
Support services for relatives
Support portal of the German Armed Forces
The Bundeswehr's Care & Welfare portal is a comprehensive resource covering all kinds of topics related to the Bundeswehr.
German Armed Forces Social Welfare Organisation.
The Bundeswehr Social Welfare Organisation offers, among other things, a wide range of holiday accommodation and special travel deals.
Federal Armed Forces Support Organisation (BBO)
The Bundeswehr Support Organisation (BBO) is responsible for the welfare and support of soldiers and their families.
Department II: Marriage – Family – Partnership
Department II of the Catholic Council deals with issues relating to marriage, family and partnership among soldiers and their families.
Professional support in the civil sector
German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV)
The German Social Accident Insurance is the point of contact if the traumatic event occurred in the context of an accident at work or on the way to work.
Helpline for violence against women
The Violence Against Women Helpline is a nationwide, free service offering advice and assistance to women who have experienced or are still experiencing violence.
Sexual Abuse Helpline
The Sexual Abuse Helpline is a nationwide, free and anonymous contact point for victims of sexual violence.
Online database for victims of crime (ODABS)
The online database for victims of crime is a database containing nationwide services for victims of crime.
Victims Compensation Act (OEG)
Victims of intentional acts of violence and their surviving dependants are entitled to benefits under the Victims Compensation Act in certain cases.
Telephone counselling
The telephone counselling service is an anonymous service for people in stressful life situations. Free of charge, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Traffic Accident Victims' Aid Association.
Verkehrsopferhilfe e. V. is an institution of German motor vehicle liability insurers that, in certain cases, covers the settlement of claims following a traffic accident.
White Ring
The White Ring victim helpline provides victims of crime with straightforward assistance in the form of initial counselling.
Emergency calls
German Armed Forces hotline: Telephone number 0800 588-7957
Members of the German Armed Forces who are affected by post-traumatic stress disorder and their family members can receive help via the free PTSD helpline.
The medical on-call service
The medical on-call service provides assistance in the event of a non-life-threatening illness occurring outside of your GP's regular opening hours.
Central Contact, Management and Coordination Office (ZALK)
The ZALK is the point of contact for soldiers who have been injured in action when it comes to implementing the EinsatzWVG (Deployment Compensation Act) or the EinsatzUV (Deployment Compensation Ordinance).
Nummer gegen Kummer: Children and young people's helpline
The Nummer gegen Kummer (Children and Young People's Helpline) is a telephone counselling service for children and young people, available nationwide, anonymously and free of charge.
Number against sorrow: Parents' helpline
The Number Against Sorrow (parent helpline) is a nationwide telephone service offering conversation, advice and information for parents and guardians.
European emergency number: Telephone number 112
The Europe-wide, toll-free emergency number 112 connects to a control centre that alerts the organisations responsible for the respective emergency – police, ambulance service, fire brigade.
Police emergency number: Telephone number 110
The free police emergency number (110) should only be dialled in genuine emergencies. For example, if a crime needs to be reported.
Online and mobile offerings
Coach PTSD App
The Coach PTSD smartphone app provides soldiers and their families with information on PTSD and other post-traumatic stress disorders.
Advice from an expert (online advice)
Advice from experts is a service offered by the association Angriff auf die Seele (Attack on the Soul) and the team at the German Armed Forces Psychotraumazentrum (Psychological Trauma Centre) in Berlin.
Online test: PTSD (Offers of help)
An online test to assess the severity of post-traumatic stress symptoms can provide an initial indication of whether there are signs of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Online test: Alcohol (Offers of help)
An online questionnaire on alcohol dependence offers a simple and anonymous way to reflect on one's own drinking behaviour.
Online test: Depression (Offers of help)
An online test on the severity of depression symptoms can provide initial guidance.
Brochures and other information
Brochures & Leaflets
When the mission doesn't end...
If the mission does not end... is a guide for soldiers under stress, published by the Psychotraumazentrum (Psychological Trauma Centre).
When the impact continues...
When the mission continues to have an impact... is a guide for relatives of soldiers.
Contact points for health damage caused by accidents during operations
A guide for soldiers and their families. Published by the PTSD representative of the Federal Ministry of Defence.
Helping professions
A guide from the German Armed Forces for helping professions. Published by the Federal Ministry of Defence's representative for PTSD.
Children's books
Shady spots – My dad has PTSD!
Shady Spots – My Dad Has PTSD! is designed for children aged 4 to 14.
Karl, the bear reporter on duty
Karl, the bear reporter on assignment, explains the circumstances of a foreign assignment in language suitable for children.
Campaigns and other media
What exactly does “Angriff auf die Seele” (Attack on the psyche) mean?
Our explanatory video conveys what Angriff auf die Seele e. V. stands for in less than a minute: we support soldiers and their families.
Summer Bivouac 2023 (trailer)
Trailer for the 2023 Summer Bivouac – Building bridges for soldiers injured in action on 20 September 2023 in Berlin.
Impressions and music from the 2023 summer bivouac
Impressions and soundtracks from the 2023 Summer Bivouac – Building bridges for those damaged by deployment on 20 September 2023 in Berlin.
#InvisibleSuffering – Information about the campaign
Here you can learn more about the #UnsichtbaresLeid campaign. A brief insight into the history of the campaign – from the idea to its implementation.
Film 1: #Invisible Suffering – Perspectives of affected soldiers and veterans
Film 1 of the campaign #UnsichtbaresLeid (Invisible Suffering) gives soldiers and veterans a voice and conveys their perspective.
Film 2: #Invisible Suffering – The Perspective of Relatives
Film 2 of the #UnsichtbaresLeid campaign takes a look at the perspective of relatives and partners of those affected.
Film 3: #Invisible Suffering – The Perspective of Therapists and Social Workers
In the third film of the #UnsichtbaresLeid campaign, therapists and social workers share their impressions and describe their perspectives.
Film 4: #Invisible Suffering – Perspective from the point of view of children
The fourth film in the #UnsichtbaresLeid campaign tells the story from the children's perspective.
#InvisibleSuffering of relatives and partners of affected persons (EN Subtitles)
The short film conveys the perspective of the relatives and partners of affected soldiers.
#InvisibleSuffering – Accounts of the therapists and social workers (EN Subtitles)
This short film conveys the perspective of the therapists and social workers of the affected soldiers.