Swiss perspectives in 10 languages

Mad Pride in Geneva aims to destigmatise mental illnesses

People participate in a Mad Pride, in Geneva
Participants in Geneva's Mad Pride Keystone

Some 500 people have taken to the streets of Geneva as part of the first Mad Pride to be held in Switzerland. The festive procession of patients and their relatives as well as carers aimed to remove the stigma from psychological illness. 

“Let’s be crazy, let’s be us!” chanted many participants on Thursday, World Mental Health Day. Signs addressed mental illness in a humorous way, using the French words for nutters, fruitcakes and screwballs. Some people wore funnels on their head. 

“They’re playing with their own image instead of hiding,” said Michel Pluss, director of the Trajets foundationExternal link, which since 1979 has promoted the social and professional integration of people with mental problems. 

Pluss initiated this event along with CoraaspExternal link, an umbrella group for associations that deal with mental health in French-speaking Switzerland.  

“We’re like everyone else with our small and big worries,” said Carole, who lives in the village of Aigues-VertesExternal link, an institution for people with disabilities. 

Adéi, another participant, wanted to raise awareness of personality disorders. 

‘Can affect us all’ 

Mad Pride is held in the same spirit as the Gay Prides with the idea of using the city to get across a message on mental health, diversity and citizenship, according to Coraasp. 

“It’s time to be able to talk about mental health the way we talk about physical health, to be able to say that we suffer from depression or schizophrenia the way we say we suffer from cancer or heart disease,” the organisers said. 

“Mental illness can affect us all at some point in our lives,” Pluss said. 

According to the Swiss Health ObservatoryExternal link, mental illnesses are among the most common and disabling diseases. Their 2016 report on psychological health in SwitzerlandExternal link revealed that 18% of respondents believe they have significant or moderate psychological problems. Around 30% reported depressive symptoms and 2% quite severe symptoms.

Demand for psychological care has risen in recent years, the study said. In 1997, 4.1% of the population was treated for psychological problems; this rose to 5.4% in 2012. The number of people visiting psychiatric specialists has increased significantly over the past ten years, from 283,000 in 2006 to 447,000 in 2015.

The Mad Pride movement originated in Toronto in 1993 in response to prejudices against people with a psychiatric history. The basic idea was to turn negative stereotypes and images about mental illness into something positive. The movement has since spread around the world.

More

Popular Stories

Most Discussed

News

More heavy metal detected in Swiss grassland

More

Study finds more heavy metal detected in Swiss grassland

This content was published on Copper and zinc can be expected to accumulate in the soil, particularly if farmyard manure is used for several years and is greater than the amount of nutrients absorbed by the grass. This was announced by the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) on Friday. The findings are based on the results of the seventh National Soil Monitoring of Switzerland (Nabo).

Read more: Study finds more heavy metal detected in Swiss grassland
The Federal Administrative Court in St Gallen, Switzerland.

More

Court rules al-Qaeda supporter can stay in Switzerland

This content was published on A Kurdish supporter of the Islamist terrorist network al-Qaeda can stay in Switzerland, the Federal Administrative Court has ruled. It has withdrawn the annulment of the man’s provisional admission.

Read more: Court rules al-Qaeda supporter can stay in Switzerland
Dieselgate scandal: In 2015 it emerged that millions of VW diesel-powered vehicles had been manipulated to pass environmental standards.

More

Swiss prosecutors close VW ‘Dieselgate’ case

This content was published on The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland (OAG) has closed criminal proceedings relating to the Swiss owners affected by the Volkswagen “Dieselgate” emissions scandal.

Read more: Swiss prosecutors close VW ‘Dieselgate’ case
Employment prospects remain stable in the fourth quarter

More

Q4 job prospects in Switzerland remain stable

This content was published on The employment outlook in Switzerland will remain stable towards the end of 2024, according to the KOF Swiss Economic Institute at ETH Zurich.

Read more: Q4 job prospects in Switzerland remain stable
Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks to reporters at his Mar-a-Lago estate Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, in Palm Beach, Florida.

More

Swiss woman accuses Donald Trump of sexual assault

This content was published on A former Miss Switzerland candidate has accused Donald Trump of sexually assaulting her in New York in 1993. The US Republican candidate’s campaign team has denied the accusations.

Read more: Swiss woman accuses Donald Trump of sexual assault

In compliance with the JTI standards

More: SWI swissinfo.ch certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative

You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!

If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR