The city of Bottrop marks half a century of psychiatric research by hosting a week-long celebration.

The city of Bottrop is set to host a week-long festival in October 2025, coinciding with World Mental Health Day on October 10th. This event, known as the Psychiatric Inquiry Anniversary Festival, will take place from October 6th to 15th, 2025, and will serve as a platform for all interested parties to remember and exchange ideas about the significant event that initiated a fundamental reform of psychiatry in Germany 50 years ago.

The Psychiatric Inquiry of 1975 was a turning point in the history of psychiatric care in Germany. It aimed to improve the quality of life for people with mental illnesses and set an important sign for more humanity in psychiatric care. The event exposed abuses and demanded fundamental changes, leading to the development of a more outpatient-oriented care for people with mental illnesses in Germany.

The festival week will be filled with numerous spaces for encounters, information, and exchange, as multiple institutions in Bottrop open their doors to provide insights into mental health work. The ceremonial act, which includes specialist lectures, personal experiences, and a panel discussion, will take place on October 6th at 10 am in the Chamber Concert Hall.

Participating organizations include BSG Bildungsinstitut für Soziales und Gesundheit GmbH, Diakonisches Werk Gladbeck-Bottrop-Dorsten, St. Antonius Hospital Bottrop-Kirchhellen, Caritasverband der Stadt Bottrop, Valeara Bottrop GmbH, Evangelische Sozialberatung, and Der Paritätische.

As the festival week progresses, attendees will have the opportunity to look back on 50 years of the Psychiatric Inquiry, a milestone in Germany's psychosocial development. The festival aims to commemorate the beginning of a transition to a more humane care for people with mental illnesses in Germany, a change that continues to resonate and impact the lives of many today.

The Psychiatric Inquiry Anniversary Festival promises to be an enlightening and engaging event for all those who care about mental health and the ongoing pursuit of dignified care for people with mental illnesses.