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 help-seeking behavior. A total of 582 students with a mean age of 16 could be questioned during the film festival in Leipzig. Results: As the results show, the effect on the viewers' social distance strongly depends on the content of the feature films and documentaries: A reduction as well as an increase of social distance was identified. Students who knew somebody mentally ill showed a lower social distance than students who did not know a mentally ill person. Concerning help-seeking behavior, the effect also depends on the feature film or documentary with one feature film and documentary showing no significant change. Conclusions: It has to be taken into consideration that feature films or documentaries about mental illness do not automatically reduce stigma or influence help-seeking behavior.