Training in Prijedor for LGBTI Community: The Importance of Mental Health Care

As part of the project funded by the European Union “Regionalising LGBTI inclusive psychosocial support and access to mental health services in Bosnia and Herzegovina”, a two-day training on the importance of mental health care of LGBTI persons and the provision of LGBTI inclusive psychosocial support and mental health services will be held in Prijedor on July 22 and 23, 2022. The training will be organized for LGBTI people from cities of Republika Srpska. This training is another one in a series of trainings for LGBTI people throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina on the importance of mental health care.

Since the protection of mental health and general social well-being of LGBTI people is often surrounded by stigma and prejudice, it is necessary to raise awareness of LGBTI people themselves about the importance of maintaining well-being and mental health care and access to services in mental health systems.

The goal of the project “Regionalising of LGBTI inclusive psychosocial support and access to mental health services in Bosnia and Herzegovina” is to create an environment in which LGBTI people will be encouraged and supported in accessing social protection and mental health systems that provide inclusive and sensitized services.

The project is implemented by Sarajevo Open Centre, and the project partner is the Wings of Hope Foundation from Sarajevo, which through its mental health program seeks to improve social inclusion and strengthen women, children, youth and other vulnerable groups, promoting and protecting human rights, mental health and support in education.

The first day of the training will be led by Amil Brković and Matej Vrebac from Sarajevo Open Centre, who will talk about LGBTI identities and the basics of human rights of LGBTI persons in BiH, and the second day Irena Đumić, Branko Ćulibrk and Isidora Ećim, psychologists, peer to peer counsellors and psychotherapists from Youth Centre KVART, whose focus will be on mental health.

Agenda in BCS is available here.

All those interested can apply at the address: [email protected], no later than 20 July 2022. The number of participants is limited. Accommodation, food and transportation costs are covered by Sarajevo Open Centre.

For more information about the project, please contact:

Delila Hasanbegović Vukas, Programme Coordinator, Sarajevo Open Centre

Tel: 033 551 000

E-mail: [email protected]