Press release
Publication date: 2026-09-24
Action Day for the Week of Mental Health in Wiehl Diverse program with personal experiences, creative offerings, and regional support options
Oberbergischer Kreis. Talking about mental health and overcoming exclusion - this is the aim of a joint action day organized by the VHS Oberberg and the Wiehl ENTHINDERT network. The motto: "Every Mind Counts – For Acceptance, Against Exclusion." Visibility, exchange, and mutual support are at the heart of the event, which takes place on Friday, October 9, 2026, from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the Johanniterhaus, Homburgerstraße 7 in Wiehl.
“Many people experience exhaustion, stress, trauma, addiction, or sensory overload – often without their surroundings knowing about it. The action day aims to make these invisible burdens visible and encourage open conversations,” says Educational Director Stefan Heße.
As part of the program, individuals will authentically share their experiences: A youth group from the Lebensfarben Association will showcase excerpts from their collaboratively created film "Invisible" with affected youth. The founder of the ADHD Self-Help Group for Adults in Wiehl will explain the effects of ADHD in daily life, and a young man will openly share his personal experiences with a mental illness. The program will be musically accompanied by Joachim Kottmann and Töm Klöwer, who will create space for reflection between contributions.
Creative Activities to Participate
The program is complemented by creative elements: Under the guidance of a VHS Oberberg instructor, visitors can create mood cards, paint stones with staff from the Theodor Fliedner Foundation, and view artworks by artists from the Haus Waldruhe in Wiehl.
Information booths will feature regional providers, including the Theodor Fliedner Foundation, OGB (Ortsnah gut begleitet), the Self-Help Contact Point of the Paritätischer Oberbergischer Kreis, the ADHD Self-Help Group for Adults from Wiehl, the Lebensfarben Association, the OASe (Open Work for Seniors), the Volkshochschule Oberberg, and the Wiehl ENTHINDERT network. Catering will be provided by RAPS, a non-profit workshop for people with mental disabilities.
Accessibility as a Lived Value
The organizers place special emphasis on inclusion: Sign language interpreters are available upon request (registration by September 30, 2026), and two translators will provide simplified language through headphones. The Johanniterhaus is wheelchair-accessible, has wheelchair-friendly restrooms, and offers a quiet room for individuals experiencing sensory overload. A free transport service can be organized through OASe Wiehl (Phone: 02262 93842).
Admission is free, and everyone is warmly welcome.
Organizers: VHS Oberberg and Wiehl ENTHINDERT, in cooperation with Theodor Fliedner Foundation, OGB, Self-Help Contact Point of the Paritätischer Oberbergischer Kreis, ADHD Self-Help Group for Adults from Wiehl, Lebensfarben Association, and OASe.
Further information on accessibility: Maria Lamsfuß, Phone: 02262 72 96 172, Email: mlamsfuss@lebenspfade-oberberg.de
