Bundesverband Burnout und Depression

What Bundesverband Burnout und Depression does

Bundesverband Burnout und Depression e.V. (BBuD) is a registered German nonprofit association (eingetragener Verein) founded in 2013 by Thomas Grünschläger and headquartered in Neuss. It functions as a national self-help federation for individuals affected by burnout, depression, and stress-related illnesses, providing in-person Selbsthilfegruppen, psycho-social mail counseling, and editorial campaigns such as #21Tage and Film des Monats. The organization also operates distinctive community formats including Guided Mystery Cafés and the Lachtelefon (laughter telephone), and runs BBuD_Connect, a member-facing digital community platform launched in 2025.

The organization's revenue model is consistent with a volunteer-driven nonprofit: it relies on membership fees, donations, and sales of seminars and educational materials, with a secondary B2B stream via the IFGL corporate prevention program targeting employer-sponsored burnout prevention. BBuD maintains active coalition positions within the Aktionsbündnis Seelische Gesundheit, DAG SHG, and Initiative Transparente Zivilgesellschaft, and has accumulated over 39,980 voluntary hours since founding, supported by repeat startsocial Bundessiegel awards and Ausgezeichnetes Ehrenamt recognition.

Operationally, BBuD runs on a fully volunteer basis with no paid staff, which constrains scale but keeps the cost base minimal. Forward activity in 2025 includes the BBuD_Connect app launch, a virtual counseling partnership with virtualsupporttalks.de (Redezeit für dich), an expanded parliamentary ribbon campaign reaching 1,400 politicians, and a planned 2026 online self-help program for single parents. Leadership transition is underway with founder Thomas Grünschläger's announced departure.

Name

Bundesverband Burnout und Depression

Legal name

Bundesverband Burnout und Depression e.V.

Website

https://bvbud.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Bundesverband Burnout und Depression e.V. (BBuD) is a German volunteer-run nonprofit federation founded in 2013, providing self-help groups, counseling, advocacy, and digital community tools to individuals affected by burnout, depression, and stress-related illnesses.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mental Health Self-Help and Support Services

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Stress Management & Burnout Prevention Coaching (HSADAGAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Community Health, Health Promotion & Behavior Change (SBCC) (BPADAIAL)

Keywords

• Mental health support
• Burnout self-help
• Psychosocial counseling
• Corporate mental health prevention
• Peer support groups

Headquarters

HQ city

Neuss

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: The organization generates revenue through membership contributions from supporters who join as members. Members contribute financially to support the association's mission of helping those affected by burnout and depression.
2. Donations and Contributions: The organization accepts charitable donations from individuals and organizations supporting mental health causes. Donation options are available on the website with various ways to contribute.
3. Seminars and Educational Materials: The organization offers seminars and educational materials for purchase, including prevention offerings for companies and educational content for individuals seeking to understand and address burnout and depression.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Bundesverband Burnout und Depression e.V. (BBuD) is a German nonprofit self-help organization that delivers peer-led mental health support services to individuals affected by burnout, depression, and stress-induced illnesses. Its portfolio includes themed self-help groups, psycho-social mail counseling, the Lachtelefon, Guided Mystery Cafés, the BBuD_Connect mobile app, and corporate prevention programs under the IFGL initiative.

Product overview

Bundesverband Burnout und Depression e.V. (BBuD) operates as a self-help organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of mental health support services. The core offerings include solution-oriented Selbsthilfegruppen (self-help groups) and the BBuD_Connect mobile app for member connectivity and coordination. The organization provides multiple support channels including Guided Mystery Cafés for combating loneliness, the Lachtelefon (laughter telephone) for emotional support, and voluntary psycho-social mail counseling. Prevention services for businesses are delivered through the Initiative für Gesundes Leistungsklima (IFGL) and the annual Tag des Gesunden Leistungsklimas event. Additional offerings include the #21Tage campaign, a Film des Monats educational series, digital health application (DiGA) guidance, and online self-help resources for specific groups. The products work together to provide a continuum of support from peer-based self-help to professional counseling referrals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BBuD_Connect: A mobile application enabling connected exchange, appointment scheduling, and access to important information for members and supporters.
• Guided Mystery Cafe
• Lachtelefon
• Tag des Gesunden Leistungsklimas
• IFGL - Initiative für ein Gesundes Leistungsklima
• #21Tage – „One more thing"
• Anderes Burnout Café (ABC)
• Redezeit für dich

Products and services

• Selbsthilfegruppen (Self-help Groups) Solution-oriented self-help groups (Anderes Burnout Café and themed groups) for individuals affected by burnout, depression, anxiety, and related stress-induced illnesses, facilitating peer support and mutual aid across Germany.
• BBuD_Connect App Mobile application enabling members and supporters to stay connected, manage exchange with other members, track appointments, and access important information on the go.
• Guided Mystery Cafés Guided online sessions designed to combat loneliness through structured, facilitated group conversations for affected individuals.
• Lachtelefon (Laughter Telephone) Phone-based service providing cheerful emotional support through humor, operated by trained volunteers to combat loneliness and distress.
• Psycho-social Mail Counseling (Ehrenamtliche Beratung) Voluntary psycho-social mail counseling service providing guidance and support for individuals seeking help with stress-induced issues, including support in disability (Schwerbehindertengrad) applications.
• IFGL Prevention Services for Companies Prevention services delivered under the Initiative für Gesundes Leistungsklima (IFGL) banner, helping companies build and maintain healthy work environments through impulse lectures, workshops, and the annual Tag des Gesunden Leistungsklimas event.
• Online-Selbsthilfe für Alleinerziehende Online self-help program specifically designed for single parents, providing mental health support tailored to their unique challenges.
• Redezeit für dich (Talk Time for You) Virtual peer support initiative delivered via virtualsupporttalks.de providing an online space for people to talk and receive structured peer support.

Quantifiable outcome

• Achieved 70% disability recognition (Merkzeichen g) for a client through counseling support
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Aktionsbündnis Seelische GesundheitcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025BBuD participates in the annual 'Parlamentarier tragen Grüne Schleifen' (Parliamentarians wear Green Ribbons) campaign organized by the Aktionsbündnis Seelische Gesundheit during the Mental Health Action Week (10-20 October). This partnership enables BBuD to reach parliamentarians across party lines with mental health awareness messages. In 2024, over 800 ribbons were distributed; in 2025, 1,400 parliamentarians participated. The partnership amplifies BBuD's advocacy reach significantly.
• DAG SHG (Deutsche Arbeitsgemeinschaft Selbsthilfegruppen)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBBuD maintains an association with DAG SHG as evidenced by logo display on the website. This partnership connects BBuD to the broader German self-help group network and provides mutual support in advocacy and resource sharing for self-help organizations.
• Initiative Transparente ZivilgesellschaftminorOthersBBuD participates in the 'Initiative Transparente Zivilgesellschaft' (Transparent Civil Society Initiative) by Transparency International Germany, demonstrating commitment to organizational transparency and good governance practices.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Deutsche Gesellschaft für Suizidprävention (DGS): German umbrella society for suicide prevention, member-driven, coordinating local crisis services and awareness campaigns. Direct peer as a nonprofit, advocacy- and prevention-focused organization addressing overlapping stress-related mental health conditions.
• Deutsche Depressionsliga: German national self-help association for people affected by depression. Direct peer sharing the voluntary-association (e.V.) self-help model, member-driven support groups, and advocacy mission focused on depression and related mental health conditions.
• Stiftung Deutsche Depressionshilfe: Major German foundation funding depression research, awareness, and self-help infrastructure. Comparable to BBuD in addressing depression/burnout, operating on a not-for-profit funding model, and running public-awareness campaigns targeting parliamentarians and the general public.
• BApK Bundesverband der Angehörigen psychisch Erkrankter: Federal association of relatives and friends of mentally ill people in Germany. Direct peer operating as a self-help association (e.V.) around mental health, with advocacy, peer support, and member-driven services structurally analogous to BBuD's caregiver and family-member segment.
• Telefonseelsorge Deutschland: Nationwide 24/7 volunteer-staffed telephone crisis-counseling service. Direct peer to BBuD's Lachtelefon and psycho-social mail counseling, sharing the model of trained volunteers providing emotional support to distressed callers in Germany.
• Nummer gegen Kummer e.V. Volunteer-driven association operating the German children and youth helpline. Direct peer in the volunteer-helpline + e.V. self-help model serving distressed individuals via phone and online channels.

Broad incumbents

• Aktionsbündnis Seelische Gesundheit: German coalition organizing the annual Aktionswoche Seelische Gesundheit and the 'Parlamentarier tragen Grüne Schleifen' campaign that BBuD partners with. Broad incumbent in mental-health advocacy with an institutional reach larger than BBuD's individual membership base.
• DAG SHG (Deutsche Arbeitsgemeinschaft Selbsthilfegruppen): Already a partner-organization displaying on BBuD's site — the national umbrella and coordination body for self-help groups in Germany. Broad incumbent sitting above BBuD in the German self-help infrastructure and providing political/operational backbone for the format BBuD uses.
• DGPPN e.V. German Society for Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, Psychosomatics, and Neurology — the large scientific-professional association for mental health. Broad incumbent covering the same mental-health condition space as BBuD but from a clinical, professional, and research perspective rather than peer self-help.

Others

• NAKOS (Nationale Kontakt- und Informationsstelle zur Anregung und Unterstützung von Selbsthilfegruppen): National contact and information point supporting the development of self-help groups in Germany. Not a competitor, but an enabling/ecosystem organization — at the same intersection of mental health self-help support that BBuD mobilizes.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BBuD2013
• Facebookfacebook.com/BvBuDeV
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/79578928

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Bundesverband Burnout und Depression