Within the EU project HUMAN RIGHTS PROMENE – HUMAN RIGHTS PROmotion of MEntal health NEtworks, Caritas Serbia together with the Clinic for Psychiatric Diseases Dr Laza Lazarevic, the Network for Promotion of Mental Health NaUm, the Association Prostor and other partners organised the event titled “Minute till midnight for mental health” on the occasion of World Mental Health Day, 10 October, aimed at the promotion of mental health, human rights and reducing stigma and discrimination against persons with mental disabilities.
The first activity within the event took place on the premises of Novi Beograd Municipality. The forum titled “Minute till midnight for mental health” was participated in by Gorica Djokic of the Clinic for Psychiatric Diseases Dr Laza Lazarevic and members of associations of beneficiaries of mental health services, doctors and NGO representatives.
The programme continued in Dom omladine where Marina Kostic of Caritas Serbia welcomed the guests and introduced them to the project HUMAN RIGHTS PROMENE within which Caritas is launching a two-month anti-stigma campaign to be implemented in 13 municipalities included in the project. The focus of the campaign are educational workshops for high school students. The campaign, implemented by Caritas within said EU project, will run through 10 December, World Human Rights Day, on the occasion of which yet another public event will take place as well as a screening of a documentary dealing with respect for human rights of persons with mental disabilities.
Nicolas Bizel, Representative of the EU Delegation to Serbia, also addressed the participants and stressed the importance of promoting effective action aimed at increasing social inclusion and combating any type of discrimination and stigmatisation and raising awareness about mental health. Mental health issues can affect anyone, they’re global in nature and concern the society as a whole. Campaigns as such are essential in coping with this issue in an efficient and systematic manner.
Members of Dusa Association, Bojana Ivanov and Petar Jugovic, through their speeches conveyed one of the most important message – that they are human and willing to fight for their rights and be an equal part of the population in the eyes of society.
The event was an opportunity for associations of beneficiaries of mental health services to showcase their handiworks. Moreover, the visitors had a chance to take part in numerous activities prepared by associations: a photo session titled “Different, yet equal”, a stress test, a prejudice trivia, and even have a temporary tattoo done labelled “De-stigmatise yourself” etc. “Living library” attracted most of the attention: here, visitors could hear stories from people who had gone through depression, panic attacks and phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorders or listen to stories told by leaders of self-help groups.
Members of Prostor Association presented the brochure “Hearing voices, self-help groups” published within a project supported by the Embassy of Australia. Also, Glen Morrison, First Secretary and Consul of the Embassy of Australia, addressed the attendees.
Participants also had a chance to see the play “Why me?” performed by residents of the Psychiatric Hospital in Kovin.
