PARALLEL EXPERIENCE

4 gates of European culture

A reflection on the social exclusion of people with mental disorders in today’s world

September 13 – 18, 2010 in Prague

Psychiatric Clinic, General University Hospital and First Faculty of Medicine of Charles University Prague (Katerinska garden, Vondracek auditorium, Psychiatric Clinic lobby)

Adress: Ke Karlovu 11, Prague 2

The aim of the project called Parallel Experience is to make the public aware of the fact that people with mental disorders constitute a significant part of our society and that the problem of this particular group’s social exclusion is everyone’s problem. About 20% of population is stricken by some form of mental disorder during their life, with the most serious form – psychotic disorders (such as schizophrenia, acute psychotic disorders, etc.) affecting about 1-2% of the population. Sooner or later, people persistently suffering from some kind of mental disorder are often isolated and excluded from society. At first, this is caused by needed long term hospitalization, later, by complicated social integration. Often they lose their families, friends, jobs, etc. As a result of significant decreases in their standard of living, they live in isolation, on welfare or subsidized payments, or they are placed (even for several years) in mental institutions or specialized homes for seniors. Due to society’s reaction, the mentally ill are often ashamed of their illness and feel stigmatized by it. In general, society knows very little about the topic of mental disorders, with many prevailing myths and views constructing barriers in the way of adequate professional help.

The project will be realize in a way that will disturb daily schedule in the Clinic as little as possible. We suppose that the mutual co-operation could be very fruitful for both the Clinic and the patients. We believe that the Parallel Experiences project have the potential to speak to wide public and to significantly help to straighten the view on people with mental disorders and increase the toleration of socienty when they try to integrate back in the major society.

The project Parallel Experience will take place in Prague, Bratislava, Vienna and Dresden, for a period of one week at each location between September 2010 and March 2011. The project consists of four parts: an exhibition, interactive screening, performance, professionally led lectures/workshops for the general pubic.

PARALLEL WORLDS
Exhibition of artworks created by people with mental disorders realized in cooperation with the nonprofit organization Kolumbus and it will be installed within the Katerinská garden and the lobby of the Psychiatric Clinic. The exhibition is the link between all participating countries.

PARALLEL STORY
Interactive screening simulating the schizophrenic environment and experience to a healthy individual (film supervision by Doctor Jan Vevera, Ph.D. )

PARALLEL SITES
performance/theater/dance show
Performances and concerts will take place partly  in the Katerinska garden, in the Vondracek auditorium and in the St. Catherine Church.

PARALLEL EXPERIENCE
- professionally led lectures/workshops
Via the Psychiatric Clinic, we approached the leading Czech psychiatrist and representatives of the clients to spread awareness of mental disorders, demystify and dispel the many prejudices and false opinions prevailing in society, present statistical data, present the testimony of the clients undergoing treatment, define fundamental prerequisites for including people with such disorders within society, etc.The lectures/workshops will take place in the Vondracek auditorium

Parallel Experiences are organized by OPONA, o.p.s. together with MVP agency s.r.o. and General University Hospital under the auspicious of Dana Juraskova, Ph.D., Minister of Health of the Czech Republic.