Wageningen – On Monday 28 November the councilor Guido van Vulpen will inaugurate the exhibition OPEN. He does it at Wageningen’s Markt at 3pm. The exhibition consists of 30 portraits of young people (18-35 years old). They deal with depression in their lives and talk about it openly. The exhibition aims to make mental vulnerability a topic of discussion.
The exhibition can be visited from Monday 28 November to Tuesday 27 December at the Wageningen Markt.
Make negotiable
Many youths and young adults have mental problems. Talking about mental problems is often difficult. For the person with problems but also for bystanders. Guido van Vulpen, Councilor for Health and Youth: ‘Talking about depression or what’s on your mind is not easy. Having an open conversation and offering a listening ear is perhaps the most important thing you can do. By placing the portraits in a central location in the city, we make mental health a topic of discussion.’
The story behind the exhibit
The exhibition is a project of Open Mind. This organization brings difficult social issues to public attention. Mirjam Bekker-Stoop (of the Open Mind foundation) and Linelle Deunk (photographer) saw how their daughters struggled with depression, but also how they learned to cope with it. They traveled all over the Netherlands together. They portrayed a group of young people and recorded their personal stories. It has become one special trip. Sensitive but above all surprisingly strong young people tell us how they experience their depression. And what their environment can mean. The portraits and the stories come together in a traveling exhibition, a photo journal and a podcast.
Program
During the exhibition period, activities are organized by various organizations. It focuses on mental vulnerability in young people. The activities are aimed at young people, students, parents and other stakeholders. Consult the program of the inauguration and of the activities www.wageningen.nl/openoverdepressiviteit.
Cooperation
The exhibition and the activities in the city were born from the collaboration between different social organizations. The following organizations are involved: WUR and Spectrum SPC, the youth work and neighborhood social work of Solidez Welzijn, Thuis Wageningen, Pro Persona, Youth Council Wageningen, Startpunt and the municipality of Wageningen.
