The Film Festival „AUSNAHMEZUSTAND“ (State of Emergency). Is a sensitization for mental health possible?

Aim: From October 2008 until June 2010, the association Irrsinnig Menschlich e.V. from Leipzig carried out the German-wide film festival „Ausnahmezustand“, on the subject of mental health, for the second time. The festival was on tour in more than 70 cities. Its aim was to give a podium to the topic mental health and to inform and entertain an adolescent audience that has not been in close contact with the subject before. Methods: A pre-post test was carried out to look for the effect of feature films and documentaries on social distance of the adolescent audience towards mentally ill people and on the change in…