On May 30, 2026, the German Foundation for Depression and Suicide Prevention (Stiftung Deutsche Depressionshilfe und Suizidprävention), led by its Chairman of the Board, Prof. Dr. Ulrich Hegerl, hosted the German Patient Congress on Depression at the historic Alte Oper Frankfurt in Frankfurt am Main.

During the event, the MENTBEST project was promoted through flyers distributed across the site and by the MENTBEST Mentina team on-site. The team actively communicated information about MENTBEST during a variety of events, including information booths, coffee and lunch gatherings, and partner coffee events.

The congress brought together around 1,300 guests, offering people affected by depression and their relatives a space to learn more about the illness and to exchange experiences with others.

The event was led by Prof. Dr. Ulrich Hegerl and co-hosted by German actor, comedian, writer, and television presenter Harald Schmidt, patron of the German Foundation for Depression and Suicide Prevention. When asked about the congress, he said: “Many people initially believe they are alone with the illness – yet they are actually in very good company. The Patient Congress, with more than a thousand participants, demonstrates this impressively time and again.”

Other well-known figures who are committed to raising awareness about depression were also present, including former professional cyclist Jan Ullrich, former Minister of Defense Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, and bridal fashion designer (“Zwischen Tüll & Tränen”) and Spiegel bestselling author Sanna Lindström.

Events like the Patient Congress on Depression are a powerful reminder of why initiatives like MENTBEST matter: bringing people together, reducing stigma, and ensuring that those affected by depression and suicidal behaviour know that support and research are advancing on their behalf.