The portrayal of mental illnesses such as schizophrenia in media is often distorted. In order to counteract a false perception in the public eye, it is important to convey a realistic picture of the illness with all its facets. For this reason, Seriencamp, together with Boehringer Ingelheim, launched the "No Stigma" initiative at this year's Seriencamp Conference in Cologne.
As part of the initiative, media professionals are invited to participate in the following activities:
- Call to Pitches "No Stigma - Media for Mental Health" starts on 27.06. We are looking for ideas with a true-to-life portrayal of schizophrenia. Creative minds can submit their script proposals until January 15, 2025. The conditions of participation and instructions for submitting material are available at www.media4mentalhealth.de. A jury is expected to announce the winner of the pitch competition in February 2025.
- The workshop "No Stigma - Schizophrenia in Film & Series" at the beginning of October this year is aimed at authors from film and television and aims to impart skills for dealing responsibly with the topic of "schizophrenia". You can already register now at ... to find out more about the workshop.
"When it comes to schizophrenia, many people think of hallucinations and inner voices. Very few people know that the illness has many other, less obvious facets. Those affected are often misunderstood and stigmatized," explains Christoph von der Goltz, Global Head of Mental Health at Boehringer Ingelheim. "At Boehringer Ingelheim, we are not only committed to improving medical care for those affected, but also want to contribute to painting a more realistic and balanced picture of mental illness in the public eye as part of a broader approach," von der Goltz continues.
"Film and television can significantly shape the perception of socially relevant topics," adds Gerhard Maier, founder of Seriencamp. "However, false portrayals can be harmful for those affected and their relatives: they not only contribute to stigmatization, but also have an impact on the diagnosis and course of the disease. A conscientious and balanced portrayal can have a positive influence on social perception and promote discourse."
There are already good examples of this: Series such as THE MOPES in the case of depression but also SAFE in the case of child therapy or films such as SÖRENSEN HAT ANGST with regard to anxiety disorders have had positive effects on the public's perception of these topics. The portrayal of schizophrenia, on the other hand, often remains problematic in the media. Protagonists with violent tendencies and psychotic episodes, exaggerations of symptoms and undifferentiated characterizations are just a few examples of how films and series can contribute to stigma. The aim should therefore be to follow the positive examples of media portrayals of schizophrenia as well.
Details on the initiative and further information can be found at media4mentalhealth.com.