CR Basel: Posters between Delusion and Reality

With the awareness campaign "Delusion or Reality?", the Basel-Stadt Health Department and CR Basel are drawing attention to the complex world and problems of people suffering from psychosis. Psychosis is an umbrella term for disorders in which there is a change in perception and thinking in those affected. The best known form is schizophrenia. Regardless of gender, cultural background or income level, approximately 0.5 percent of the population, or one in 200, will develop a psychosis during their lifetime. As with a serious physical illness, the symptoms of the disease often lead to sufferers being secondarily incapacitated and no longer being able to organize their lives as usual. With appropriate treatment, many patients can be cured of schizophrenic psychosis today, especially if diagnosed early. But even later, those affected can be helped to the point where they are able to manage their lives relatively independently again.

GBS sets an example

The Basel-Stadt Health Department (GBS), which operates under the label of Allgutebasel.ch has been doing highly regarded communications work in various areas for years, is devoting its current awareness campaign, again designed and realized by cr basel advertising agency, to the key issue of psychosis. For good reason: because people with psychosis suffer doubly, as they are confronted with serious social prejudices and this often leads to disadvantages, for example when looking for a job or an apartment. For the "Delusion or Reality?" poster campaign, the agency conducted an elaborate site search in order to be able to place the messages both in well-frequented locations and in locations that are ideally suited to the more than 30 individual motifs - especially since it is both a convincing and decisive dramaturgical point that the posters are integrated precisely into real worlds. The subjects represent exemplary impressions and visions of the kind that can afflict people suffering from psychosis. Depending on the viewer's point of view, this can be simply interesting, or it can be depressing. In short: "For you a poster. For psychosis sufferers reality.", as the subline on the posters says.

The skilfully staged visual play with delusion or reality sets strong signals to deal with the topic. Further and detailed information can be found in topic-specific flyers, which are also available in streetcars, as well as at Allgutebasel.ch.

Responsible at the Department of Health Basel-Stadt: Thomas Steffen (Cantonal Physician Basel-Stadt), Christina Karpf (Program Manager Mental Health), Nicole Zingg. Responsible at CR Basel: Gabriel Heuberger (CD), Alain Szerdahelyi (AD), Daniel Roth (graphics), Judith Mann, Philipp Schweizer (text), David Burkhardt (photos), Thomas Fux, Lukas Weibel (consulting).