Göttingen & Bordeaux

“We aim to remove the stigma related to metal illness and create an environment of acceptance.”

The World Health Organization defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”. Mental disorders are common, affecting more than 450 million people worldwide. Every year, more than 800 000 people die of suicide. Around the world, mental health is still a cause of discrimination and stigma, sometimes to the extent of human rights violations that hinder effective care. Discrimination affects many aspects of lives of people with mental health problems, such as school and work, health care, interpersonal relationships and overall quality of life.
This project aims at opening the dialog on mental health problems and addressing the stigma surrounding mental illness to promote well-being for all. By showcasing individuals coming forward and sharing their relationship with mental health, we wish to encourage more people to do so themselves. This could mean prioritizing their mental health, demonstrating tolerance and understanding of others or even seeking help if needed. By making this project participative, we encourage participants to further their own reflections regarding mental health, and extend their experiences to those who have not yet found their way towards a solution.
Suffering from mental disorders is an invisible handicap. We wish to raise awareness regarding the challenges people with mental health problems face every day and, with more time, implement changes that affected individuals could benefit from. This project was thought out to foster conversations on the topic of mental health, initiate a public dialogue, create an environment of acceptance, and reduce discrimination.