With strength through the crisis - Mental Health Week

The last few months have challenged us all with the extraordinary circumstances caused by corona and have been an enormous burden for many. The crisis is also sapping our mental strength - this year's Mental Health Week under the motto "With strength through the crisis. Stay healthy, even mentally" shows how we can strengthen our mental health. The campaign week is already a tradition in Jena and is entering its 12th round in a slightly different form under these special circumstances. This time, much of the action is taking place digitally at https://gpv.jena.de/.

Green ribbons come to Jena

On average, one in four people in Germany suffers from a mental illness once a year, yet mental health problems are still a taboo subject for many people. The stress, fears and worries of the population have intensified in recent months as a result of the coronavirus crisis. "To show solidarity with people suffering from mental illness, we are bringing the Green Ribbons to Jena this year," says Arlett Findeis, a counselor at Diakonie's Center for Mental Health and a member of the campaign week's preparatory team. The symbol for more openness and acceptance of mental illness will therefore be on display over the next few days at the facilities in Jena that provide help for people in crisis and with mental illness. In addition, a picture gallery with photos of people who show their colors and wear the Green Ribbon will be created at https://gpv.jena.de/. Anyone who would like to take part should send their picture by e-mail(spdi@jena.de) to Christiane Hofmann from the Social Psychiatric Service, who is responsible for the design of the website and the Green Ribbon campaign in Jena.

"We would like a lot of company in the picture gallery. You can easily make the ribbons yourself, but I will also be handing them out on Thursday, October 15 between 3 and 5 p.m. on the market square. You can easily recognize me by a big green ribbon."

Nevertheless - do what gives us strength

The Jena Week events will kick off on Saturday, October 10 with a hike entitled "Walking new paths together. Today!" will take place. Accompanied by Polten Wanderwelten, we will simply go out to talk to each other and embark on an ingenious tour in the natural area around Jena.

Gabriele Wiesner from the IKOS self-help advice center, which is helping to organize the event and the Jena Week, cordially invites all interested parties: "Bring some provisions and a face mask just in case and join us. As we are out in the fresh air, you don't need to register in advance and simply come to the fountain on the market square at 10 am on Saturday. We look forward to discovering new things with you and talking about what makes us strong!"

Since Corona, many things are no longer possible as we know them. It is not yet clear how long this will remain the case - a thought that burdens many people and also triggers fears. The Center for Mental Health is currently exploring the question of what is still possible with its "Nevertheless" campaign and is collecting letters and pictures on the subject. The shop window of the Diakonie center at Neugasse 13 will then show what is still possible to get through the crisis well. Contributions can be sent to zfsg.jena@diako-thueringen.de or posted directly through the letterbox.

Further events, the video greeting from Lord Mayor Dr. Thomas Nitzsche and many interesting contributions can be found from 10 October on the newly designed pages for Jena Mental Health Week at https://gpv.jena.de. You can also access the nationwide weeks with an extensive online event catalog. The big nationwide kick-off will take place digitally via live stream on October 9. You can watch it under the title "Mit Kraft durch die Krise. Stay healthy - even mentally" from 17:30 to 19:30 on youtube, for example. In addition to a keynote speech and best practice examples, experts from science and healthcare will discuss the connections between corona and the psyche live with those affected and mental health activists. They will give practical tips on how to deal with the crisis and discuss important questions about our mental health in times of crisis.