Experience psyche: insights into the world of mental illnesses in Spittal

Experience psyche: insights into the world of mental illnesses in Spittal

In our society, one speaks openly about physical complaints such as herniated discs or cruciate ligament tears. In contrast, mental illnesses are often taboo, which means that those affected often feel isolated. In order to abolish this stigmatization, Pro Mente Styria has launched the "Experience Psyche Experience" experience. This exhibition is to be visited in Carinthia in the Stadtsaal Spittal, Lutherstraße 4. There, interested parties can take part every day from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and learn more about topics such as depression, alcohol addiction and schizophrenia.

"Visitors can experience up close how these diseases could feel," explains Corina Ponta, head of the Spittal social psychiatric day center. With the help of trained staff, visitors from the age of 16 can experience how people with depression experience their everyday life and what it means to suffer from schizophrenia. The exhibition is rounded off by simulations that make the perception of the influence of alcohol understandable.

simulation of everyday life with schizophrenia

A particularly impressive part of the exhibition is the so-called schizophrenia shelf, which simulates the challenging voices in the head that many affected people hear. Visitors are equipped with a shopping list and should ignore the overlapping voices when completing their tasks. "That sounds easy, but it quickly becomes a big challenge," continued Ponta. It is said to be illustrated how mental illnesses can influence the perception of everyday life.

"We want to sensitize and show that mental illnesses have to be taken seriously," adds Michaela Obrist from Pro Mente. The goal is to make the everyday hurdles with which people fight, to make visible and arouse empathy.

insight into the challenges of depression

Another highlight of the exhibition is the depression tunnel, in which visitors have to hike through a dark room with a heavy vest and weights. In addition, dark thoughts about headphones sound that symbolize the feeling of the overwhelming load of depression. "Every step becomes a pain and you want nothing more than just stop," reports Georg Spiel, Managing Director of Pro Mente Carinthia. The tunnel is intended to illustrate the lack of drive and the inner struggles that many affected people experience.

This also makes it clear why statements like "tear yourself together" are often not helpful for people with depression. These statements are in the background when you feel how stressful it can be to deal with such a disease.

Understand the risks of alcohol addiction

The third stop in the exhibition is devoted to alcohol and its effect. With special glasses, visitors can simulate different intoxicating states and learn how dangerous it is to control a vehicle under the influence of alcohol. This experience shows how even slight alcohol values can significantly influence body feeling and coordination. "It is terrifying to see how difficult even simple tasks fall with these glasses," explains Ponta.

The exhibition is part of the Initiative "Mental Health #speech", which was launched on the occasion of the world day of mental health on October 10th. In addition to the exhibition, other events, such as the "Mental Health Run", are also offered. On October 30th there will be a final event in the Casineum Velden, in which various personalities will talk about their own experiences with mental illnesses.

Detailed information and the possibility of reservation are available via the contact address of Pro Mente Carinthia. The experience exhibition is an important step to raise awareness of mental illnesses and to offer those affected more visibility and understanding in society.