During October, two activities were organized in Mostar as part of the project „Balkan regional Platform for Youth participation and dialogue, by the Debate Section of Gymnasium and the Association of Young psychologists Mostar. The project is supported by EU trough Civil Society Facility Operating Grants to regional thematic associations programme.
The Association of Young psychologists started the project „Open your mind – stop the stigma“ during the September, and therefore organized a eponymous action on the 10th of October, 2016 symbolically to mark International Health Day, which this year was under the theme „Psychological first aid“.
The street action took place in Brace Fejica street (10 am to 14 pm). The members of the association informed citizens about the importance of mental health, types of mental illness, as well as of methods of their treatment. The main goal of this action was to provide citizens with all necessary information on the basic principles of providing psychological help; how to recognize people who need this kind of help, and where to go in case they are not able to provide assistance alone.
Guided by the motto: There is no health without mental health, the members of Association have pointed out the importance of providing psychological help to maintain, not only mental, but also the physical health overall.
Gymnasium Debate Section organized the activity „Active young people talk“, within the debate with topic: Rights of minorities in local communities. The debate was conducted under the thesis – Mental abuse by peers should be treated as well as physical abuse.
The debate took place on the 14th of October at 14 pm in the premises of American Corner (Gymnasium Mostar) with the participation of Karađozbeg Madrasa, Secondary electro technical school and Gymnasium Debate Section.
The aim of the debate was to draw attention to the situation of marginalized groups, and to shed light on the events that their members pass through (as members of the local community). Debate participants pointed out the importance of creating local networks of people and young activists who can learn new skills to help in organizing events in the City Mostar, with the aim of solving the problems mentioned in the debate.
The activities were implemented with the support of Local Democracy Agency (LDA) Mostar.