Young people of the generations of Z and Millennials were the focus of the first Austrian “Future Health Talk” of the science and technology company Merck on April 10, 2025. In three interactive break-out sessions, they discussed their challenges, needs and future expectations in the areas of “Mental Health & Wellbeing”, “Health Competence”, ” “Family, Career & Health”. The event created space for an open dialogue – with impulses for possible project approaches that could be pursued in the sense of a chance -friendly and healthy future.
The Future Health Talk took place on April 10, 2025 for the first time in The Social Hub Vienna – as part of the long -term “Future” project by Merck Austria. The interactive event offered young generations the opportunity to exchange ideas about mental health & Wellbeing, health competence and the compatibility of work, family and health and to address their concerns directly to expert: inside and stakeholders. “At Merck, we see it as our responsibility to support young generations in a quickly changing world, to listen to them and to integrate them into decision -making processes”
explains Dr. Leif E. Moll, Managing Director Merck Austria.
European study as a basis
The basis of the exchange was based on the Europe -wide study “International Research on the Health Status of Europeanans”, which Merck carried out with 9,329 participants in 15 countries – including 630 from Austria. The results show: Almost half of the 20- to 37-year-olds often feel mentally and physically uncomfortable, invests a lot of time and money in health-promoting measures and wishes more support, for example in starting a family or reconciling work, private life and health.
Impulse lecture on New Work
According to the presentation of the study results, the keynote speech by the lawyer Mag.A Lena Marie Glaser, MA, the founder of “Basically Innovative – the Future Laboratory”, set an inspiring accent. She encouraged the participants to clearly formulate their concerns and to actively contribute: “Young generations come into rethinking on many levels in the world of work. Flexibility, appreciation and new working time models shape their idea of professional life. Decision -makers: Interior in business and politics should listen well, and learn from their perspectives”
so your appeal.
Break-Out: Mental Health & Wellbeing
In the Breakout session on “Mental Health & Wellbeing”, the participants in particular criticized the psychological care situation: high mental burden, long waiting times for therapy places and inadequate assumption of costs by social security. The psychologist Mag. Alexander Grabenhofer-Eggerth, head of the psychosocial health of Gesundheit Austria GmbH, underlines: “Mental health is no longer a border issue- it is central to the well-being of young people. We need low-threshold offers, more prevention and a more open culture in the education and work world to enable long-term health.”
Break-out: health literacy
With the expression of health competence, the participants mainly associated a lack of reliable information, called for the subject of health formation and a stronger moderation in social media: “Health competence is an essential basis for health and well -being. It not only includes the necessary knowledge, the motivation and ability of individuals, relevant health information to find, to be assessed, critically assessed and applied. It is also decisive for health literacy that the environment provides high -quality, evidence -based and understandable health information. To make it easier to get access to so -called ‘good health information’ and to be able to identify dubious sources on the other hand.
emphasizes Mag.a Dr.in Lisa Gugglberger from the Austrian platform for health competence.
Break-Out: Family, Career & Health
“Time, social resources and money are the limiting factors in the compatibility of family, career and health. Many young people – especially young women – feel under pressure”
brought Prof. Dr. Bernhard Rupp, head of the Health Policy Department in the Lower Austria Chamber of Lower Austria, to the point of the results of the third break-out session. In the discussion it became clear that young people want more flexibility and social support that meets their reality of life, such as consideration for care work or participation in the design of their working world. “The need for strengthening their health skills is among the young Austrians: above average. This opportunity should not miss this opportunity – however, social policy is by no means released from the obligation to create health -promoting living conditions”
so Rupp.
Future: Where is the journey going?
“Health, balance and joie de vivre of young generations are a central concern for me both as a father and as a managing director and employer of many young people”
summarized hosts Dr. Leif Moll. “That is why we will continue to hear your concerns – and, wherever possible, integrate them into our agenda.”
About future
“Future” is a long -term and ambitious project, which is initiated and implemented by Merck to promote awareness and discussions on topics that are important for future generations. It follows the approach “for them, through them”, by offering young people the opportunity to discuss their needs, opinions and concerns with leading decision-makers, institutions as well as the top executives of Merck and so hear.
Current challenges are to be identified as part of this project. Merck focuses on better understanding the priorities and concerns of the youth and developing solutions together that support the establishment of a better future. Future is based on three central pillars:
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Researching the needs and expectations of young people through thematic studies (surveys) in order to gain a sound understanding.
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The promotion of this discussion on the public agenda by means of information events in cooperation with representatives: inside of the young generations to hear their opinions and suggestions.
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Listening to the young talents within Merck and strengthening their influence through an internal Advocacy platform.
About Merck
Merck, a leading science and technology company, works in the areas of Life Science, Healthcare and Electronics. Around 63,000 employees are working on making a decisive difference in the life of millions of people every day for a more livable future: from products and services to faster and manufacture medication to the discovery of unique ways to treat diseases to the provision of applications for intelligent devices – Merck is everywhere. In 2023 Merck generated sales of 21 billion euros in 65 countries.
Scientific research and responsible entrepreneurship are crucial for Merck’s technological and scientific progress. This principle has been in effect since it was founded in 1668. The founder family is still the majority owner of the listed group. Merck holds the global rights on the name and the Merck brand. The only exceptions are the USA and Canada, where the divisions appear as Milliporesigma, EMD Serono and EMD Electronics.
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