Hygiene-Museum focuses on mental health - Dresden's How Are You? Exhibition Challenges Germany's Mental Health Stigma

A new exhibition in Dresden is shining a light on mental health struggles across Germany. Titled How Are You?, the show at the German Hygiene Museum shares personal stories and belongings from local residents to build understanding. Organisers hope it will help break down stigma and encourage better support for those affected.

Mental health issues touch one in four Germans at some point in their lives. Many problems first appear in adolescence, though people often seek help much later. The pandemic has worsened the situation, particularly for young people facing increased psychological strain.

The exhibition highlights stark inequalities in mental well-being. In low-income households, 23.1% of children and teenagers show signs of distress. This drops to 16.2% in middle-income families and 9.2% in high-income homes. Meanwhile, work absences due to psychological illness have jumped by 43% over the past decade, showing the economic toll of poor mental health.

Despite growing awareness of conditions like depression and burnout, stigma remains strong—especially around psychosis and addiction. The Dresden exhibition pushes for mental health to be treated as a shared responsibility, calling on society, politics, and medicine to work together on solutions.

The How Are You? exhibition runs at the German Hygiene Museum, offering visitors a chance to engage with real experiences of mental health challenges. By featuring local voices and objects, it aims to foster inclusion and push for systemic change. The organisers stress that improving mental health support requires action from all parts of society.