Affective disorders among children and adolescents are among the growing challenges of our time. But what role do education, career choice, and societal structures play in their development, and what can be changed through preventive action?

In her research, Rachel Karan explores the complex relationships between individual development, systemic influences, and psychological well-being during adolescence. Drawing on qualitative interviews and scientific findings, she offers new perspectives on a subject that affects families, schools, and institutions alike.

This compelling work contributes to the important question of how we can strengthen young people before they reach a breaking point—and how sustainable development begins with the small, often overlooked factors that shape their lives.

Rachel Karan is an experienced leader in the service sector and a researcher in the field of Work and Organizational Psychology at PHW Bern. Her work focuses on integrating business management structures with psychological insights to support the sustainable development of individuals and organizations. As a mother and a long-standing youth worker, she is particularly committed to promoting intergenerational collaboration and fostering a values-based leadership culture.