This tandem group wants to break down prejudices against depression with their courage tour.
They also stopped in Garching.
Garching - Those who suffer from depression often find it difficult in our society. Men in particular often do not speak about their illness for fear of stigmatization. “Many see broken work as a strength,” observes Peter Kraus, who is himself affected by depression. The 55-year-old from Freiburg is part of a tandem group of the so-called courage tour, which is on its way from Regenburg to Ulm in six days - and is currently making a stop in Garching. The campaign of the German Depression League is intended to draw attention to the disease and to explain that it is definitely treatable.
Many prejudices still persist in society.
"We want to encourage people to seek help - many see depression as a character weakness," says Kraus.
His tandem partner is Kerstin Schopf (27) from Stuttgart, who also suffers from the disease and learned about the courage tour three years ago via social media.
"In the end, we do public relations work with self-help with us."
In total, the group is traveling with three tandems. The six people were randomly thrown together and are one of a total of ten teams in all of Germany. "Seven days on the road with strangers - that is also part of the adventure," explains Franziska Radczun (32) from Berlin. "In the end, we do public relations work with self-help in our luggage." She herself was confronted with depression in her family environment as a child and is involved in Berlin for children whose parents suffer from mental illnesses. The Berliner shares her tandem with Bernhard Rieder (47) from Landshut, who is affected himself and was in a clinic for a longer period last year. “I stand for speaking about depression without inhibitions,” he says.
The third tandem is driven by Lucia Koch (59) from Mainz and Werner Thron (45) from Augsburg. Lucia Koch had been depressed for a long time without even knowing it. “It was almost a relief to have a word for it.” Many people have the disease and would never find a real reason for their suffering. When you have the diagnosis, "you learn to live with it and to help yourself - even if you can't witch away the disease," says Koch.
In addition to education and public awareness, the courage tour is also balm for the soul of the participants.
People with depression often suffer from listlessness and a lack of self-esteem.
By cycling in a team, camping and self-sufficiency on the way, you draw all strength.
“The experience of self-efficacy,” says Werner Thron, “on the tour helps against the feeling of powerlessness.” LAURA MAY
Help with depression:
Those who are affected can either get information from the German Depression League, depressionsliga.de, Tel. 0800/334 45 33, visit a psychologist or contact one of the contact points in the district such as the social psychiatric service of Caritas, Im Klosterfeld 14b, Unterschleißheim, (089/3218 32 31)
