Take Care: a Mental Health Survey

As part of the European project Take Care, FEDEC and the Research Department of Codarts (Rotterdam University of the Arts) have carried out a study on mental health and well-being among students in professional circus schools during the 2025–2026 academic year.

The initiative involved 17 FEDEC member schools across Europe and was based on the Performing Artist Health Monitor (PAHM), a digital self-assessment tool developed by Codarts to support performing arts students in monitoring their mental health, well-being, and physical and mental capacities.

The survey aimed to:

• collect data on students' well-being and mental health;
• identify stress factors specific to circus arts education;
• develop tools and recommendations to improve support systems within educational institutions.

Throughout the academic year, participating students completed a series of online questionnaires. The collected data contributes to a better understanding of the realities, challenges and needs experienced by students in professional circus education. The project also aims to strengthen knowledge and evidence on mental health within the circus sector and to support the development of preventive measures and support strategies.

Results and Dissemination

The analysis of the data, carried out by Codarts during autumn 2026, will be presented during two dedicated events:

• Take Care Conference – ON THE EDGE Festival, Vienna - Saturday 7 November 2026
• Online Presentation of the Results - Thursday 12 November 2026, 15:00–16:30 (Brussels time) - Online (English)

The online session will include a presentation of the key findings, followed by an opportunity for discussion and feedback on both the monitoring process and the study's outcomes.

Registration: registration for the Vienna conference will open no later than September on the FEDEC website.

Resources for Schools

At the end of the project, schools will have access to the study findings, methodological tools and sources of inspiration through the Take Care Toolbox, available on our website.

More info

The deadline to participate in the survey has now passed, but you can still learn more about the PAHM and the survey by downloading the Call for Participation below. 

Any questions? 

👉 For any question, please contact takecare@fedec.eu.

Take Care is a European project dedicated to mental health and well-being in the circus arts sector, co-funded by the European Commission's Creative Europe programme and coordinated by FEDEC in collaboration with Codarts, Circus Dance Festival, Filip Jacobson, Miikkael Kukkula, Around About Circus, and associated partners Circuscentrum, Circus City and ON THE EDGE Festival. Find out more here.