Mental illnesses are widespread and often begin in childhood and adolescence: almost one in three people experience a mental illness in the course of a year. These illnesses can affect people of all ages and in different life situations. The success of keeping the mind healthy or healing it depends on many factors. In order to advance research in the field of mental health, it must therefore do justice to the complex social, psychological, biological and developmental factors that influence people in their living environments. The DZPG has developed a comprehensive research program that focuses on early detection and prevention, urban mental health and improved psychotherapy and is supported by several joint infrastructures. The program is translational, meaning that it aims to bring research results to patients as quickly as possible. It has been developed together with experts from the field, i.e. patients and their families, and aims to involve them in all phases of the research.